Detection of Helicobacter pylori in the coastal waters of Georgia, Puerto Rico and Trinidad

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2014

Publication Title

Marine Pollution Bulletin

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.

Department

Biological and Environmental Sciences

Volume Number

79

Issue Number

1-2

First Page

354

Last Page

358

Comments

© 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

DOI

10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.11.021

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