title: Detection of Helicobacter pylori in the coastal waters of Georgia, Puerto Rico and Trinidad.
abstract: Fecal pollution in the coastal marine environments was assessed at eleven sampling locations along the Georgia coast and Trinidad, and nine sites from Puerto-Rico. Membrane filtration (EPA method 1604 and method 1600) was utilized for Escherichia coli and enterococci enumeration at each location. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) amplification of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was used to determine the presence of the Helicobacter pylori in marine samples. There was no significant correlation between the levels of E. coli, enterococci and H. pylori in these water samples. H. pylori was detected at four of the 31 locations sampled; Oak Grove Island and Village Creek Landing in Georgia, Maracas river in Trinidad, and Ceiba Creek in Puerto Rico. The study confirms the potential public health risk to humans due to the widespread distribution of H. pylori in subtropical and tropical costal marine waters.
authors: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Georgia College and State University, Campus Box 81, Milledgeville, GA 31061-0490, USA.
authors: Chelsea B
authors: CB
authors: Holman
authors: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Georgia College and State University, Campus Box 81, Milledgeville, GA 31061-0490, USA. Electronic address: Dave.bachoon@gcsu.edu.
authors: D S
authors: DS
authors: Bachoon
authors: Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, P.O. Box 9000, Mayaguez 00681, Puerto Rico.
authors: Ernesto
authors: E
authors: Otero
authors: Department of Life Sciences, The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago.
authors: Adesh
authors: A
authors: Ramsubhag
mesh_terms: D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development; D005845:Georgia; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011647:Puerto Rico; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology*; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago; D014871:Water Microbiology
keywords: Caribbean; Fecal pollution; Helicobacter pylori; Marine pollution; Pathogens