biostudies-literatureUnknown8Marcheggiani S<h4>Background</h4>Microbiological indicators are commonly used in the assessment of public health risks associated with fecal contamination of freshwater ecosystems. Sediments are a reservoir of microorganisms, and can thus provide information on past pollution events, not obtainable through the testing of surface water. Moreover, pathogens present in sediment may represent future threats to human health. Clostridium perfringens, a typical colonizer of sediments, has been suggested as an alternative indicator of fecal pollution. In order to be suitable for such purpose, the microorganism should be widely distributed in contaminated environments. The objective of this study was thus to determine the composition of the anaerobic community in sediment samples of the lower Tiber basin, in cenBMC microbiology171https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC2569943biostudies-literatureMicrobiological and 16S rRNA analysis of sulphite-reducing clostridia from river sediments in central Italy.PMC2569943D'angelo APierdominici EIaconelli MLa Rosa GMuscillo MMarcheggiani SMancini LEquestre MfalseMicrobiological and 16S rRNA analysis of sulphite-reducing clostridia from river sediments in central Italy.<h4>Background</h4>Microbiological indicators are commonly used in the assessment of public health risks associated with fecal contamination of freshwater ecosystems. Sediments are a reservoir of microorganisms, and can thus provide information on past pollution events, not obtainable through the testing of surface water. Moreover, pathogens present in sediment may represent future threats to human health. Clostridium perfringens, a typical colonizer of sediments, has been suggested as an alternative indicator of fecal pollution. In order to be suitable for such purpose, the microorganism should be widely distributed in contaminated environments. The objective of this study was thus to determine the composition of the anaerobic community in sediment samples of the lower Tiber basin, in cen2008-01-01T00:00:00Z2008 Oct2025-04-19T13:25:13.621Z2019-03-27T00:18:57ZS-EPMC25699431884213210.1186/1471-2180-8-171