High abundance of genetic Bacteroidetes markers for total fecal pollution in pristine alpine soils suggests lack in specificity for feces

Julia Vierheilig; Andreas H Farnleitner; Denny Kollanur; Günter Blöschl; Georg H Reischer

doi:10.1016/j.mimet.2012.01.009

High abundance of genetic Bacteroidetes markers for total fecal pollution in pristine alpine soils suggests lack in specificity for feces

J Microbiol Methods. 2012 Mar;88(3):433-5. doi: 10.1016/j.mimet.2012.01.009. Epub 2012 Jan 20.

Authors

Julia Vierheilig¹, Andreas H Farnleitner, Denny Kollanur, Günter Blöschl, Georg H Reischer

Affiliation

¹ Centre for Water Resource Systems (CWRS), Vienna University of Technology, Karlsplatz 13/222, A-1040 Vienna, Austria.

Abstract

Two frequently applied genetic Bacteroidetes markers for total fecal pollution (AllBac and BacUni) were found in high numbers in pristine soil samples of two alpine catchment areas casting doubt on their value as fecal indicators. This finding underlines the necessity to evaluate assays locally and against non-intestinal samples before application.

Publication types

Evaluation Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bacteroidetes / genetics*
Feces / microbiology*
Sensitivity and Specificity
Soil Microbiology*
Soil Pollutants / analysis*

Substances

Soil Pollutants

Grants and funding

P 22032/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria