title: Enumeration of Campylobacter in New Zealand recreational and drinking waters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To use a published polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for the detection and identification of thermotolerant Campylobacter species (Camp. jejuni, Camp. coli and Camp. lari) in tandem with a Most Probable Number (MPN) technique to enumerate these species in water samples.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An initial study of 42 river water samples compared the use of conventional culture and PCR methods for the detection of Campylobacter in MPN enrichment tubes. It was found that all samples positive by culture were also positive by PCR. Thirty-seven percent more MPN tubes were positive by PCR compared with culture. The MPN/PCR technique was subsequently applied to 96 additional samples collected from rivers, drinking, roof and shallow ground water. Campylobacter was especially prevalent in river water (60% positive) and shallow ground water (75% positive) samples. Drinking water (29.2% positive) and roof water (37.5% positive) also contained Campylobacter, but the numbers detected were very low (maximum 0.3 and 0.56 MPN 100 ml-1, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  River waters contained Campylobacter at higher levels than any other water type and in a high percentage of the samples. Although Campylobacter was present in treated drinking water, the levels detected were low.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that water may act as a significant transmission route for human campylobacteriosis.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Science and Research Ltd, Christchurch Science Centre, PO Box 29-181, Elam, Christchurch, New Zealand. marion.savill@esr.cri.nz
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Savill
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Klena
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Scholes
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Whyte
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: McCormick
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jankovic
mesh_terms: D002167:Campylobacter / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009520:New Zealand; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D014867:Water