title: Behavior of Escherichia coli and male-specific bacteriophage in environmentally contaminated bivalve molluscs before and after depuration.
abstract: We monitored the differential reduction rates and elimination patterns of Escherichia coli and male-specific (F+) bacteriophage during UV depuration for 48 h in oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and mussels (Mytilus edulis) contaminated by short-term (1 to 3 weeks) and long-term (more than 6 months) exposure to sewage in the marine environment. The time taken to reduce levels of E. coli by 90% was 6.5 h or less in all cases. In contrast, the amounts of time needed to reduce levels of F+ bacteriophage by 90% were considerably longer: 47.3 and 41.3 h (after short- and long-term exposures, respectively) in mussels and 54.6 and 60.8 h (after short- and long-term exposures, respectively) in oysters. No differences in the rates of reduction of indicators of viral pollution following exposure of the shellfish to either short- or long-term sewage contamination were observed. Further experiments were conducted with mussels to determine the relative distributions of E. coli and F+ bacteriophage in tissue before and during depuration. Prior to depuration the majority of E. coli organisms (90.1%) and F+ bacteriophage (87.3%) were detected in the digestive tract (i.e., the digestive gland and intestine). E. coli and F+ bacteriophage were reduced in all tissues except the digestive gland to undetectable levels following depuration for 48 h. Within the digestive gland, levels of F+ bacteriophage were reduced to 30% of initial levels, whereas E. coli was reduced to undetectable levels.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D003090:Coliphages / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000382:microbiology / Q000821:virology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009928:Organ Specificity; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D012722:Sewage; D012758:Shellfish / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D012722:Sewage