Enterococcal Concentrations in a Coastal Ecosystem Are a Function of Fecal Source Input, Environmental Conditions, and Environmental Sources.

ABSTRACT: Fecal pollution at coastal beaches requires management efforts to address public health and economic concerns. Feces-borne bacterial concentrations are influenced by different fecal sources, environmental conditions, and ecosystem reservoirs, making their public health significance convoluted. In this study, we sought to delineate the influences of these factors on enterococcal concentrations in southern Maine coastal recreational waters. Weekly water samples and water quality measurements were conducted at freshwater, estuarine, and marine beach sites from June through September 2016. The samples were analyzed for total and particle-associated enterococcal concentrations, total suspended solids, and microbial source tracking markers (PCR: Bac32, HF183, CF128, DF475, and Gull2; quantitativ

SUBMITTER: Rothenheber D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6102982 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature