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.
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.
Gawler
Andrew H
AH
Environment Agency, National Laboratory Service, Starcross Laboratory, Starcross Exeter, Devon EX6 8PE, UK.
Beecher
Jean E
JE
Brandão
João
J
Carroll
Nora M
NM
Falcão
Leonor
L
Gourmelon
Michèle
M
Masterson
Bartholomew
B
Nunes
Baltazar
B
Porter
Jonathan
J
Rincé
Alain
A
Rodrigues
Raquel
R
Thorp
Martin
M
Walters
J Martin
JM
Meijer
Wim G
WG
D000818:Animals; D001439:Bacteroides / Q000235:genetics*; D001493:Bathing Beaches / Q000592:standards*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002417:Cattle; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000592:standards; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D005062:European Union; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D013045:Species Specificity; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S