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Gene Probes pp 159–169Cite as

Detection of Enterococci in Freshwater and Seawater (16S and 23S rRNA Enterococcus Oligonucleotide Probes)

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Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 179))

Abstract

Enteric bacteria, such as members of the enterococci and fecal coliform groups, are widely used as sanitary indicators of water quality in marine and freshwater systems. However, recent studies investigating the survival characteristics of these enteric bacteria in the laboratory (1–3,) and in situ (4,5) have indicated that traditional enumerative techniques, based on selective culture, do not detect all viable bacteria present. It is now widely acknowledged that microorganisms become injured as a result of exposure to stressful environments (6) and that this injury may impede growth under the stringent conditions imposed by selective culture. The term viable but nonculturable (VNC) has been used to describe those organisms that, on exposure to an adverse environment (7–9,) can no longer be cultured but have maintained some metabolic capability, as evidence by vital staining (10–12,) and in some cases have retained their virulence (7,13,14). The VNC state has been demonstrated for a number of bacterial species including E. coli (9,15), and enterococci (16), and occurs in response to a range of environmental stresses such as sunlight exposure, salinity, nutrient limitation, and pH and temperature fluctuations.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand

    Gillian D. Lewis & Sally A. Anderson

Authors
  1. Gillian D. Lewis
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  2. Sally A. Anderson
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  3. Susan J. Turner
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. CABI Bioscience UK Centre, Surrey, UK

    Marilena Aquino de Muro

  2. University of Hertfordshire, Hertfordshire, UK

    Ralph Rapley

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© 2002 Humana Press Inc.

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Lewis, G.D., Anderson, S.A., Turner, S.J. (2002). Detection of Enterococci in Freshwater and Seawater (16S and 23S rRNA Enterococcus Oligonucleotide Probes). In: de Muro, M.A., Rapley, R. (eds) Gene Probes. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 179. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-238-4:159

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-238-4:159

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-885-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-238-8

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