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A 5‐year survey (2007–2011) of enteric viruses in Korean aquatic environments and the use of coliforms as viral indicators
Author(s) -
Lee GyuCheol,
Jheong WeonHwa,
Kim Minjeong,
Choi Don Hyeok,
Baik KyoungHee
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
microbiology and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.664
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1348-0421
pISSN - 0385-5600
DOI - 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2012.00515.x
Subject(s) - most probable number , fecal coliform , biology , contamination , feces , turbidity , veterinary medicine , aquatic environment , microbiology and biotechnology , water quality , ecology , bacteria , medicine , genetics
Three hundred and thirty‐nine water samples obtained from 90 locations in Korea from 2007 to 2011 were tested for the presence of enteric viruses (EV), total coliforms (TC), and fecal coliforms (FC). A total culturable virus assay revealed that 89 samples (26.3%) were positive for EVs, the average concentration being 5.8 most probable number (MPN)/100 L. The Han river basin exhibited the highest contamination by EVs (occurrence, 41.3%; average concentration, 24.0 MPN/100 L). EV contamination was found more frequently in river water (occurrence, 33.6%; concentration, 8.4 MPN/100 L) than in lake water or groundwater. The concentration of EVs was highest in spring (7.7 MPN/100 L), whereas it was found most frequently in winter (36.1%). The number of TCs ranged from 0 – 1.2 × 10 5 colony forming units (CFU)/100 mL and that of FCs from 0–6.2 × 10 3 CFU/100 mL per sample. Statistical analyses showed that the presence of EVs, TCs and FCs did not correlate significantly with temperature or turbidity. In addition, presence of TCs and FCs was not significantly correlated with presence of EVs. In conclusion, TCs and FCs may not be accurate microbial indicators of waterborne EVs in Korean aquatic environments.