Distribution, Survival, and Significance of Pathogenic Bacteria and Viruses in Estuaries
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Date
1978
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Publisher
Academic Press, Inc.
Abstract
The decline or "die-off" of enteric microbial populations in the sea has been intensively studied by researchers from a variety of disciplines. The observed rapid die-off of enteric bacteria has been related to several factors, viz. sedimentation, predation, toxicity of trace metals in seawater, nutrient deficiencies, or salinity. From results of microbial studies of estuaries, it has been concluded that the incidence and survival of Salmonella spp., Clostridium botulinum, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, fecal streptococci, and fecal coliforms are significantly greater than suspected. Furthermore, the stability of human enteroviruses in estuarine and marine waters has been found to be such that infectious virus can be recovered after 46 weeks. Equally disturbing has been the isolation of antibiotic-resistant and heavy-metal-resistant coliforms in estuaries and in the ocean, i.e. in the New York Bight. A seasonal cycle of heavy metal and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in Chesapeake Bay has been noted and transfer of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance from Escherichia coli to Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and estuarine bacterium, has been documented. Vibrio cholerae has been discovered in the Upper Chesapeake Bay and appears to be ubiquitous in brackish water sites. These findings suggest that the autochthonous microbial flora of estuaries and coastal waters can be replaced by allochthonous species, many of which are pathogenic to man, under conditions of environmental stress and that human pathogens, such as Vibrio cholerae may be part of the autochthonous flora of brackish water areas in estuaries.
Description
pages 443-457
Keywords
vibrio parahaemolyticus, enterovirus, viruses, bacteria