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 Lisle, J. T.
Right arrow Articles by McFeters, G. A.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Lisle, J. T.
Right arrow Articles by McFeters, G. A.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Lisle, J. T.
Right arrow Articles by McFeters, G. A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, December 2004, p. 7269-7276, Vol. 70, No. 12
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.12.7269-7276.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Occurrence of Microbial Indicators and Clostridium perfringens in Wastewater, Water Column Samples, Sediments, Drinking Water, and Weddell Seal Feces Collected at McMurdo Station, Antarctica

John T. Lisle,1* James J. Smith,2 Diane D. Edwards,3 and Gordon A. McFeters3

U.S. Geological Survey Center for Coastal and Watershed Research, St. Petersburg, Florida,1 Montana Microbiological Services,2 Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana3

Received 16 March 2004/ Accepted 26 July 2004

McMurdo Station, Antarctica, has discharged untreated sewage into McMurdo Sound for decades. Previous studies delineated the impacted area, which included the drinking water intake, by using total coliform and Clostridium perfringens concentrations. The estimation of risk to humans in contact with the impacted and potable waters may be greater than presumed, as these microbial indicators may not be the most appropriate for this environment. To address these concerns, concentrations of these and additional indicators (fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, enterococci, coliphage, and enteroviruses) in the untreated wastewater, water column, and sediments of the impacted area and drinking water treatment facility and distribution system at McMurdo Station were determined. Fecal samples from Weddell seals in this area were also collected and analyzed for indicators. All drinking water samples were negative for indicators except for a single total coliform-positive sample. Total coliforms were present in water column samples at higher concentrations than other indicators. Fecal coliform and enterococcus concentrations were similar to each other and greater than those of other indicators in sediment samples closer to the discharge site. C. perfringens concentrations were higher in sediments at greater distances from the discharge site. Seal fecal samples contained concentrations of fecal coliforms, E. coli, enterococci, and C. perfringens similar to those found in untreated sewage. All samples were negative for enteroviruses. A wastewater treatment facility at McMurdo Station has started operation, and these data provide a baseline data set for monitoring the recovery of the impacted area. The contribution of seal feces to indicator concentrations in this area should be considered.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: USGS Center for Coastal & Watershed Research, 600 Fourth St.-South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Phone: (727) 803-8747, ext. 3140. Fax: (727) 803-2031. E-mail: jlisle{at}usgs.gov.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, December 2004, p. 7269-7276, Vol. 70, No. 12
0099-2240/04/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/AEM.70.12.7269-7276.2004
Copyright © 2004, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Varga, J. J., Therit, B., Melville, S. B. (2008). Type IV Pili and the CcpA Protein Are Needed for Maximal Biofilm Formation by the Gram-Positive Anaerobic Pathogen Clostridium perfringens. Infect. Immun. 76: 4944-4951 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Barnes, D. K.A, Conlan, K. E (2007). Disturbance, colonization and development of Antarctic benthic communities. Phil Trans R Soc B 362: 11-38 [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»