title: Prediction of Salmonella in seawater by total and faecal coliforms and Enterococci.
abstract: The power of total coliforms (TC), faecal coliforms (FC) and Enterococci to predict the presence of Salmonella in seawater was investigated. Indicator cut-off values with the most satisfactory combination of sensitivity and specificity in predicting Salmonella presence were 1,000 CFU 100ml(-1)TC, 200 CFU 100ml(-1)FC, 500 CFU 100ml(-1) Enterococci. When TC or FC were used for Salmonella prediction in logistic regression, then the addition of another indicator did not have a statistically significant effect. When Enterococci were used for prediction, then the addition of either of the two other indicators led to a statistically significant improvement (P=0.001 for TC, P=0.003 for FC). These results suggest that using either TC or FC alone provided an adequate indicator of Salmonella presence, but a statistically significant improvement is possible over using Enterococci alone. Concerning Enterococci, European Union limits for excellent coastal water quality (100 CFU 100 ml(-1)) and United States Environmental Protection Agency criteria for marine bathing waters (35 CFU 100 ml(-1)) have the same value in predicting Salmonella absence (92.5%).
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Sciences, University of the Aegean, University Hill, 811 00 Mytilene, Greece. efstratiou@aegean.gr
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Efstratiou
authors.forename: Athena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mavridou
authors.forename: Clive
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Richardson
mesh_terms: D016983:Enterococcus / Q000502:physiology*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012475:Salmonella / Q000502:physiology*; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity