title: Detection of human-derived fecal contamination in Puerto Rico using carbamazepine, HF183 Bacteroides, and fecal indicator bacteria.
abstract: The level of fecal pollution in 17 sites in Puerto Rico was determined by Escherichia coli (E.coli) enumeration using an enzyme substrate medium and Quanti-Tray®/2000. Human fecal pollution was identified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of carbamazepine (CBZ) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) detection of the human Bacteroides marker, HF183. Carbamazepine was detected in 16 out of 17 sites, including Condado Lagoon, a popular recreational area. Elevated E.coli levels (>410 CFU 100 mL(-1)) were detected in 13 sites. Average CBZ concentrations ranged from 0.005 μg L(-1) to 0.482 μg L(-1) and 7 sites were positive for HF183. Higher CBZ concentrations were associated with the detection of HF183 (Mann-Whitney test; U=42.0; df=7; 1-tailed P value=0.013). This was the second study to determine surface water concentrations of CBZ in the Caribbean and the first in Puerto Rico.
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, P.O. Box 9013, Mayaguez, PR 00681, USA. Electronic address: christina.wade@upr.edu.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wade
authors.affiliation: Department of Marine Sciences, University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez Campus, P.O. Box 9013, Mayaguez, PR 00681, USA.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Georgia College and State University, Campus Box 81, Milledgeville, GA 31061-0490, USA.
authors.forename: Brennan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poon-Kwong
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Georgia College and State University, Campus Box 81, Milledgeville, GA 31061-0490, USA.
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rozier
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Georgia College and State University, Campus Box 81, Milledgeville, GA 31061-0490, USA.
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bachoon
mesh_terms: D001439:Bacteroides / Q000235:genetics*; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000032:analysis*; D017691:Caribbean Region; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D004926:Escherichia coli; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D011647:Puerto Rico; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002220:Carbamazepine
keywords: Carbamazepine; Caribbean; Chemical fecal indicators; E.coli; Pharmaceutical; Puerto Rico