Hydrolysis of 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide in differing sample fractions of river waters and its implication for the detection of fecal pollution.
The hydrolysis rate of 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide (MUG-HR) was determined in unamended samples, filtered samples, and in corresponding buffer resuspended filter residues of various river waters of slight to excessive fecal pollution covering a four orders of magnitude range. Regression analysis of the log MUG-HR of the unamended water samples versus the log MUG-HR of the filter residues revealed a highly significant linear relationship (R2 = 0.94; p<0.001). The median of the MUG-HR of the filtrated water samples was about 10% the MUG-HR of the corresponding unamended water samples. If MUG-HR determinations were used as a surrogate for estimating fecal coliform contamination, both the MUG-HR of the unamended water samples and the MUG-HR of the filter residues would have been equally adequate techniques at river sites of higher fecal pollution levels. However, at river locations of decreased fecal pollution, MUG-HR determination of filter residues appeared to be the more sensitive technique in order to estimate fecal coliform concentrations.
Farnleitner
A H
AH
Institute of Biochemical Technology and Microbiology, Technical University of Vienna, Austria. a.farnleitner@aon.at
Hocke
L
L
Beiwl
C
C
Kavka
G G
GG
Mach
R L
RL
D004755:Enterobacteriaceae; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006868:Hydrolysis; D006923:Hymecromone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D014873:Water Pollutants; D006923:Hymecromone; C034888:4-methylumbelliferyl glucuronide