Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. In Rainwater Tank Samples: Comparison of Culture-Based Methods and 23S rRNA Gene Quantitative PCR Assays

Warish Ahmed; K Richardson; Jatinder P S Sidhu; S Toze

doi:10.1021/es302222b

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Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. In Rainwater Tank Samples: Comparison of Culture-Based Methods and 23S rRNA Gene Quantitative PCR Assays

Journal article

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Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. In Rainwater Tank Samples: Comparison of Culture-Based Methods and 23S rRNA Gene Quantitative PCR Assays

Warish Ahmed, K Richardson, Jatinder P S Sidhu and S Toze

Environmental Science and Technology, Vol.46(20), pp.11370-11376

2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es302222b

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Abstract

In this study, culture-based methods and quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays were compared with each other for the measurement of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. in water samples collected from rainwater tanks in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Among the 50 rainwater tank samples tested, 26 (52%) and 46 (92%) samples yielded E. coli numbers as measured by EPA Method 1603 and E. coli 23S rRNA gene qPCR assay, respectively. Similarly, 49 (98%) and 47 (94%) samples yielded Enterococcus spp. numbers as measured by EPA Method 1600 and Enterococcus spp. 23S rRNA gene qPCR assay, respectively. The mean E. coli (2.49 ± 0.85) log10 and Enterococcus spp. (2.72 ± 0.32) log10 numbers as measured by qPCR assays were significantly (P less than 0001) different than E. coli (0.91 ± 0.80) log10 and Enterococcus spp. (1.86 ± 0.60) log10 numbers as measured by culture-based method. Weak but significant correlations were observed between both EPA Method 1603 and the E. coli qPCR assay (r = 0.47, P = 0.0009), and EPA Method 1600 and the Enterococcus spp. qPCR assay (r = 0.42, P = 0.002). Good qualitative agreement was found between the culture-based method and the Enterococcus spp. qPCR assay in terms of detecting fecal pollution in water samples from the studied rainwater tanks. More research studies, however, are needed to shed some light on the discrepancies associated with the culture-based methods and qPCR assays for measuring fecal indicator bacteria.

Details

Title: Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. In Rainwater Tank Samples: Comparison of Culture-Based Methods and 23S rRNA Gene Quantitative PCR Assays
Authors: Warish Ahmed (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
K Richardson (Author) - University of Queensland
Jatinder P S Sidhu (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
S Toze (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: Environmental Science and Technology, Vol.46(20), pp.11370-11376
Publisher: American Chemical Society
Date published: 2012
DOI: 10.1021/es302222b
ISSN: 0013-936X
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450145802621
Output Type: Journal article

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