title: Bioaccumulation of pathogenic bacteria and amoeba by zebra mussels and their presence in watercourses.
abstract: Dreissena polymorpha (the zebra mussel) has been invading freshwater bodies in Europe since the beginning of the nineteenth century. Filter-feeding organisms can accumulate and concentrate both chemical and biological contaminants in their tissues. Therefore, zebra mussels are recognized as indicators of freshwater quality. In this work, the capacity of the zebra mussel to accumulate human pathogenic bacteria and protozoa has been evaluated and the sanitary risk associated with their presence in surface water has also been assessed. The results show a good correlation between the pathogenic bacteria concentration in zebra mussels and in watercourses. Zebra mussels could therefore be used as an indicator of biological contamination. The bacteria (Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Salmonella spp.) and parasites (Cryptosporidium oocysts and free-living amoebae) detected in these mussels reflect a potential sanitary risk in water.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technologies, EINA, University of Zaragoza, C/María Luna, 3, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain. mosteo@unizar.es.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mosteo
authors.affiliation: Area of Parasitology, Department of Microbiology, Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Zaragoza, C/Domingo Miral s/n, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Goñi
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technologies, EINA, University of Zaragoza, C/María Luna, 3, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miguel
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technologies, EINA, University of Zaragoza, C/María Luna, 3, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Abadías
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technologies, EINA, University of Zaragoza, C/María Luna, 3, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valero
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering and Environmental Technologies, EINA, University of Zaragoza, C/María Luna, 3, 50018, Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Ormad
mesh_terms: D000656:Amoeba / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D049875:Dreissena / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D005060:Europe; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000469:parasitology*; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis
keywords: Amoeba; Bioaccumulation; Pathogenic bacteria; Zebra mussel