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

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1994 May; 60(5): 1581-1584

Monitoring of fecal pollution in coastal waters by use of rapid enzymatic techniques.

L Fiksdal, M Pommepuy, M P Caprais and I Midttun

Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Norwegian Institute of Technology, University of Trondheim.

ABSTRACT

Enzyme assays for 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactopyranosidase and 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronidase activities were used for rapid detection (25 min) of fecal water pollution and to determine the impact of sewage discharge in coastal waters. Two coastal areas were investigated: (i) an estuary characterized by a high degree of contamination downstream of a discharge from a sewage treatment plant and a low degree of water renewal and (ii) a fjord with a low degree of pollution and a high degree of water renewal. Statistical analysis showed that a global correlation curve could be used to estimate concentrations of culturable fecal coliform bacteria in the two coastal areas, although environmental factors important for cell physiology (e.g., salinity) varied at different sampling locations. The sensitivity limit for detection of 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronidase activity corresponded to bacterial concentrations on the order of 10 to 100 CFU/100 ml. The 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-galactopyranosidase assay was less sensitive because of a higher rate of substrate autohydrolysis. The detection limit corresponded to bacterial concentrations on the order of 100 to 1,000 fecal coliforms per 100 ml.

---

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1994 May; 60(5): 1581-1584

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Anglès d'Auriac, M. B., Roberts, H., Shaw, T., Sirevåg, R., Hermansen, L. F., Berg, J. D. (2000). Field Evaluation of a Semiautomated Method for Rapid and Simple Analysis of Recreational Water Microbiological Quality. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66: 4401-4407 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Sabat, G., Rose, P., Hickey, W. J., Harkin, J. M. (2000). Selective and Sensitive Method for PCR Amplification of Escherichia coli 16S rRNA Genes in Soil. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66: 844-849 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
• Tryland, I., Fiksdal, L. (1998). Enzyme Characteristics of beta -D-Galactosidase- and beta -D-Glucuronidase-Positive Bacteria and Their Interference in Rapid Methods for Detection of Waterborne Coliforms and Escherichia coli. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 64: 1018-1023 [Abstract] [Full Text]