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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, March 2007, p. 1961-1967, Vol. 73, No. 6
0099-2240/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02437-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Genetic Relatedness of Escherichia coli Isolates in Interstitial Water from a Lake Huron (Canada) Beach{triangledown}

Tatiana Kon,1 Susan C. Weir,2 E. Todd Howell,2 Hung Lee,1* and Jack T. Trevors1*

University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada,1 Ontario Ministry of the Environment, 125 Resources Rd., Toronto, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada2

Received 17 October 2006/ Accepted 9 January 2007

Research was undertaken to characterize Escherichia coli isolates in interstitial water samples of a sandy beach on the southeastern shore of Lake Huron, Ontario, Canada. A survey of the beach area revealed the highest abundance of E. coli in interstitial water of the foreshore beach sand next to the swash zone. Higher concentrations of E. coli (up to 1.6 x 106 CFU/100 ml of water) were observed in the interstitial water from the sampling holes on the beach itself compared to lake water and sediment. Repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (REP-PCR) was used to characterize the genetic diversity of E. coli isolates from interstitial water samples on the beach. E. coli isolates from the same sampling location frequently exhibited the same REP-PCR pattern or were highly similar to each other. In contrast, E. coli isolates from different sampling locations represented populations distinct from each other. This study has identified a unique ecological niche within the foreshore area of the beach where E. coli may survive and possibly multiply outside of host organisms. The results are of interest as increasing concentrations of E. coli in recreational waters are often considered to be an indication of recent fecal pollution.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address for J. T. Trevors: University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. Phone: (519) 824-4120, ext. 53367. Fax: (519) 837-0442. E-mail: jtrevors{at}uoguelph.ca. Mailing address for H. Lee: University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. Phone: (519) 824-4120, ext. 53828. Fax: (519) 837-0442. E-mail: hlee{at}uoguelph.ca.

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 19 January 2007.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, March 2007, p. 1961-1967, Vol. 73, No. 6
0099-2240/07/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02437-06
Copyright © 2007, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Kon, T., Weir, S. C., Trevors, J. T., Lee, H., Champagne, J., Meunier, L., Brousseau, R., Masson, L. (2007). Microarray Analysis of Escherichia coli Strains from Interstitial Beach Waters of Lake Huron (Canada). Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 7757-7758 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


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