This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Whitman, R. L.
Right arrow Articles by Byappanahalli, M. N.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Whitman, R. L.
Right arrow Articles by Byappanahalli, M. N.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Whitman, R. L.
Right arrow Articles by Byappanahalli, M. N.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, August 2003, p. 4714-4719, Vol. 69, No. 8
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.8.4714-4719.2003

Occurrence of Escherichia coli and Enterococci in Cladophora (Chlorophyta) in Nearshore Water and Beach Sand of Lake Michigan{dagger}

Richard L. Whitman, Dawn A. Shively, Heather Pawlik, Meredith B. Nevers, and Muruleedhara N. Byappanahalli*

Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, United States Geological Survey, Porter, Indiana 46304

Received 7 March 2003/ Accepted 29 April 2003

Each summer, the nuisance green alga Cladophora (mostly Cladophora glomerata) amasses along Lake Michigan beaches, creating nearshore anoxia and unsightly, malodorous mats that can attract problem animals and detract from visitor enjoyment. Traditionally, elevated counts of Escherichia coli are presumed to indicate the presence of sewage, mostly derived from nearby point sources. The relationship between fecal indicator bacteria and Cladophora remains essentially unstudied. This investigation describes the local and regional density of Escherichia coli and enterococci in Cladophora mats along beaches in the four states (Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan) bordering Lake Michigan. Samples of Cladophora strands collected from 10 beaches (n = 41) were assayed for concentrations of E. coli and enterococci during the summer of 2002. Both E. coli and enterococci were ubiquitous (up to 97% occurrence), with overall log mean densities (± standard errors) of 5.3 (± 4.8) and 4.8 (± 4.5) per g (dry weight). E. coli and enterococci were strongly correlated in southern Lake Michigan beaches (P < 0.001, R2 = 0.73, n = 17) but not in northern beaches (P = 0.892, n = 16). Both E. coli and enterococci survived for over 6 months in sun-dried Cladophora mats stored at 4°C; the residual bacteria in the dried alga readily grew upon rehydration. These findings suggest that Cladophora amassing along the beaches of Lake Michigan may be an important environmental source of indicator bacteria and call into question the reliability of E. coli and enterococci as indicators of water quality for freshwater recreational beaches.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: United States Geological Survey, Lake Michigan Ecological Research Station, 1100 North Mineral Springs Rd., Porter, IN 46304. Phone: (219) 926-8336. Fax: (219) 929-5792. E-mail: byappan{at}usgs.gov.

{dagger} This article is contribution 1244 of the USGS Great Lakes Science Center.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, August 2003, p. 4714-4719, Vol. 69, No. 8
0099-2240/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.69.8.4714-4719.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Nevers, M. B., Shively, D. A., Kleinheinz, G. T., McDermott, C. M., Schuster, W., Chomeau, V., Whitman, R. L. (2009). Geographic Relatedness and Predictability of Escherichia coli along a Peninsular Beach Complex of Lake Michigan. J. Environ. Qual. 38: 2357-2364 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Heaney, C. D., Sams, E., Wing, S., Marshall, S., Brenner, K., Dufour, A. P., Wade, T. J. (2009). Contact With Beach Sand Among Beachgoers and Risk of Illness. Am J Epidemiol 170: 164-172 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Haack, S. K., Duris, J. W., Fogarty, L. R., Kolpin, D. W., Focazio, M. J., Furlong, E. T., Meyer, M. T. (2009). Comparing Wastewater Chemicals, Indicator Bacteria Concentrations, and Bacterial Pathogen Genes as Fecal Pollution Indicators. J. Environ. Qual. 38: 248-258 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Moriarty, E., Nourozi, F., Robson, B., Wood, D., Gilpin, B. (2008). Evidence for Growth of Enterococci in Municipal Oxidation Ponds, Obtained Using Antibiotic Resistance Analysis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 7204-7210 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Donovan, E. P., Staskal, D. F., Unice, K. M., Roberts, J. D., Haws, L. C., Finley, B. L., Harris, M. A. (2008). Risk of Gastrointestinal Disease Associated with Exposure to Pathogens in the Sediments of the Lower Passaic River. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 1004-1018 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Shanks, O. C., Atikovic, E., Blackwood, A. D., Lu, J., Noble, R. T., Domingo, J. S., Seifring, S., Sivaganesan, M., Haugland, R. A. (2008). Quantitative PCR for Detection and Enumeration of Genetic Markers of Bovine Fecal Pollution. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 745-752 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Ksoll, W. B., Ishii, S., Sadowsky, M. J., Hicks, R. E. (2007). Presence and Sources of Fecal Coliform Bacteria in Epilithic Periphyton Communities of Lake Superior. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 3771-3778 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Shanks, O. C., Nietch, C., Simonich, M., Younger, M., Reynolds, D., Field, K. G. (2006). Basin-Wide Analysis of the Dynamics of Fecal Contamination and Fecal Source Identification in Tillamook Bay, Oregon. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 5537-5546 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Walters, S. P., Field, K. G. (2006). Persistence and growth of fecal bacteroidales assessed by bromodeoxyuridine immunocapture.. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 4532-4539 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Ishii, S., Yan, T., Shively, D. A., Byappanahalli, M. N., Whitman, R. L., Sadowsky, M. J. (2006). Cladophora (Chlorophyta) spp. Harbor Human Bacterial Pathogens in Nearshore Water of Lake Michigan.. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 4545-4553 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • McDonald, J. L., Hartel, P. G., Gentit, L. C., Belcher, C. N., Gates, K. W., Rodgers, K., Fisher, J. A., Smith, K. A., Payne, K. A. (2006). Identifying sources of fecal contamination inexpensively with targeted sampling and bacterial source tracking.. J. Environ. Qual. 35: 889-897 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Olapade, O. A., Depas, M. M., Jensen, E. T., McLellan, S. L. (2006). Microbial Communities and Fecal Indicator Bacteria Associated with Cladophora Mats on Beach Sites along Lake Michigan Shores.. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 72: 1932-1938 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Novais, C., Coque, T. M., Ferreira, H., Sousa, J. C., Peixe, L. (2005). Environmental Contamination with Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci from Hospital Sewage in Portugal. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71: 3364-3368 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Signoretto, C., Burlacchini, G., Lleo, M. d. M., Pruzzo, C., Zampini, M., Pane, L., Franzini, G., Canepari, P. (2004). Adhesion of Enterococcus faecalis in the Nonculturable State to Plankton Is the Main Mechanism Responsible for Persistence of This Bacterium in both Lake and Seawater. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 6892-6896 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Dick, L. K., Field, K. G. (2004). Rapid Estimation of Numbers of Fecal Bacteroidetes by Use of a Quantitative PCR Assay for 16S rRNA Genes. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 5695-5697 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Whitman, R. L., Nevers, M. B., Korinek, G. C., Byappanahalli, M. N. (2004). Solar and Temporal Effects on Escherichia coli Concentration at a Lake Michigan Swimming Beach. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70: 4276-4285 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»