Validation of host-specific Bacteriodales 16S rRNA genes as markers to determine the origin of faecal pollution in Atlantic Rim countries of the European Union

Type Article
Date 2007-08
Language English
Author(s) Gawler A2, Beecher J6, Brandao J4, Carroll N1, Falcao L4, Gourmelon MicheleORCID3, Masterson B1, Nunes B4, Porter J2, 6, Rince A3, Rodrigues R4, Thorp M1, Walters J2, Meijer W1
Affiliation(s) 1 : Univ Coll Dublin, Sch Geog Planning & Environm Policy, Dublin 4, Ireland.
2 : Starcross Lab, Natl Lab Serv, Environm Agcy, Starcross Exeter EX6 8PE, Devon, England.
3 : Microbiol Lab, EMP, Plouzane, France.
4 : Inst Nacl Saude Dr Ricardo Jorge, P-1649016 Lisbon, Portugal.
5 : INRA, USC 2017, Lab Microbiol Environm, Caen, France.
6 : Univ Exeter, Sch Biol & Chem Sci, Exeter EX4 4PS, Devon, England.
Source Water Research (0043-1354) (Elsevier), 2007-08 , Vol. 41 , N. 16 , P. 3780-3784
DOI 10.1016/j.watres.2007.01.028
WOS© Times Cited 83
Keyword(s) Sensitivity, Specificity, PCR, Microbial source tracking, Bacteriodales
Abstract The recent implementation of the Revised Bathing Water Directive in the European Union has highlighted the need for development of effective methods to differentiate between sources of faecal contamination. It had previously been shown that amplification of 16S rRNA genes of host-specific Bacteriodales species using the HF183F and CF128F primers could be used as markers for human and bovine faecal contamination in the United States. This paper determined the sensitivity and specificity of these markers in four Atlantic Rim countries (France, Ireland, Portugal and the United Kingdom) to evaluate their usefulness in determining the origin of faecal contamination. It was shown that the HF183F marker displayed high sensitivity (80-100%) and specificity (91-100%), and is reliable as an indication of human faecal contamination. The CF128F marker displayed 100% sensitivity in all four countries. However, strong regional variations in specificity (41-96%) were observed, highlighting the need for local validation before this marker is employed in source tracking of faecal contamination. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Gawler A, Beecher J, Brandao J, Carroll N, Falcao L, Gourmelon Michele, Masterson B, Nunes B, Porter J, Rince A, Rodrigues R, Thorp M, Walters J, Meijer W (2007). Validation of host-specific Bacteriodales 16S rRNA genes as markers to determine the origin of faecal pollution in Atlantic Rim countries of the European Union. Water Research, 41(16), 3780-3784. Publisher's official version : https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2007.01.028 , Open Access version : https://archimer.ifremer.fr/doc/00000/4957/