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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, November 2004, p. 6892-6896, Vol. 70, No. 11
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.11.6892-6896.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

SHORT REPORT

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

Caterina Signoretto,1 Gloria Burlacchini,1 Maria del Mar Lleò,1 Carla Pruzzo,2 Massimiliano Zampini,2 Luigi Pane,3 Giorgio Franzini,4 and Pietro Canepari1*

Sezione di Microbiologia, Dipartimento di Patologia, Università di Verona,1 Agenzia Regionale per la Prevenzione e la Protezione Ambientale del Veneto, Verona,4 Istituto di Microbiologia e Scienze Biomediche, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona,2 Dipartimento DIBSS, Università di Genova, Genoa, Italy3

Received 1 March 2004/ Accepted 11 July 2004

ABSTRACT

The presence of enterococci in lake and seawater in an 18-month survey comparing molecular (PCR and quantitative PCR) and culture methods was evaluated, as well as the possibility that zooplankton could act as reservoirs for enterococci. Samples of both water and zooplankton were collected monthly from a Lake Garda site and an Adriatic Sea site. In lake water, the positive samples numbered 13 of 54 (24%) by culture and 32 of 54 (59%) when PCR was applied. In seawater, they numbered 0 of 51 by culture and 18 of 51 (35%) by PCR. Enterococci were found either totally bound to plankton or totally in water, depending on the presence or absence of plankton, respectively. These results clearly indicate that the PCR assay is a powerful tool for detecting fecal indicators and pathogens in the environment, thus providing a much more sensitive method than culture.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Università di Verona, Dipartimento di Patologia, Sezione di Microbiologia, Strada Le Grazie, 8, 37134 Verona, Italy. Phone: 39-045-8027193. Fax: 39-045-584606. E-mail: pietro.canepari{at}univr.it.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, November 2004, p. 6892-6896, Vol. 70, No. 11
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.11.6892-6896.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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