Survival and activity of Streptococcus faecalis and escherichia coli in tropical freshwater

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1989 · Crop Science; (USA)

OSTI ID:6942334

Muniz, I; Toranzos, G A ^[1]; Jimenez, L; Hazen, T C

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1. Univ. of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras (Puerto Rico)

The survival of Streptococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli was studied in situ in a tropical rain forest watershed using membrane diffusion chambers. Densities were determined by acridine orange direct count and Coulter Counter. Population activity was determined by microautoradiography, cell respiration, and by nucleic acid composition. Densities of S. faecalis and E. coli decreased less than 1 log unit after 105 hours as measured by direct count methods. Activity as measured by respiration, acridine orange activity, and microautoradiography indicated that both bacteria remained moderately active during the entire study. After 12 hours, E. coli was more active than S. faecalis as measured by nucleic acid composition. In this tropical rain forest watershed, E. coli and S. faecalis survived and remained active for more than 5 days; consequently, both would seem to be unsuitable as indicators of recent fecal contamination in tropical waters.

• OSTI ID: 6942334
• Journal Information: Crop Science; (USA), Journal Name: Crop Science; (USA) Vol. 18:2; ISSN CRPSA; ISSN 0011-183X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540311* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Basic Studies-- Radiometric Techniques-- (1990-)
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
BACTERIA
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
CONTAMINATION
ESCHERICHIA COLI
FORESTS
FRESH WATER
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MICROORGANISMS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENS
POLLUTION
POPULATION DENSITY
STREPTOCOCCUS
TROPICAL REGIONS
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
WATERSHEDS