Distribution and diversity of the enterococcal surface protein (esp) gene in animal hosts and the Pacific coast environment.
OBJECTIVE
This study sought to evaluate the distribution of the enterococcal surface protein (esp) gene in Enterococcus faecium in the Pacific coast environment as well as the distribution and diversity of the gene in Northern California animal hosts.


RESULTS
Over 150 environmental samples from the Pacific coast environment (sand, surf zone, fresh/estuarine, groundwater, and storm drain) were screened for the esp gene marker in E. faecium, and the marker was found in 37% of the environmental samples. We examined the host specificity of the gene by screening various avian and mammalian faecal samples, and found the esp gene to be widespread in nonhuman animal faeces. DNA sequence analysis performed on esp polymerase chain reaction amplicons revealed that esp gene sequences were not divergent between hosts.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data confirm recent findings that the E. faecium variant of the esp gene is not human-specific.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results suggest that the use of the esp gene for microbial source tracking applications may not be appropriate at all recreational beaches.
Layton
B A
BA
Environmental and Water Studies, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
Walters
S P
SP
Boehm
A B
AB
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D001483:Base Sequence; D015415:Biomarkers; D002140:California; D010872:Caniformia; D046091:Charadriiformes; D004285:Dogs; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology; D006254:Hawaii; D006736:Horses; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D015415:Biomarkers; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C116707:enterococcal surface protein, esp