Abstract
The detection of pathogenic microorganisms in aquatic environments is extremely relevant in terms of public health. As these laboratorial methodologies are usually difficult, expensive and time-consuming, they are frequently replaced by the assessment of fecal indicator bacteria, such as Escherichia coli. This study aimed to assess the presence of E. coli in fecal samples from Neotropical otters, to evaluate its potential as fecal indicator to be applied to the determination of water microbiological quality in areas where otters' populations are high. Twenty-six otter fecal samples, collected in Alto Paranapanema river basin, São Paulo State, Brazil, were analyzed for the presence of E. coli, using conventional bacteriological methods. Only 8 scat samples (30%) were E. coli positive, indicating that this microorganism is not a suitable fecal indicator to assess water fecal contamination by Neotropical otters, and should not be used to infer the presence of otter related pathogens in waters.
Highlights
The detection of pathogenic microorganisms in aquatic environments is extremely relevant in terms of public health (Ahmed et al, 2015)
This study aimed to assess the presence of E. coli in fecal samples from Neotropical otters, in order to evaluate the potential of this bacterial species as fecal indicator to be applied to the determination of water microbiological quality in areas where otter’s populations are high
There has been a growing concern regarding the bacterial diseases that affect tropical wild animals, considering their zoonotic and environmental contamination potential. This is especially important for animals inhabiting aquatic environments, such as the Neotropical otter, since water can be an important reservoir of pathogenic bacteria responsible for infections in other animals, including humans (Ahmed et al, 2015)
Summary
The detection of pathogenic microorganisms in aquatic environments is extremely relevant in terms of public health (Ahmed et al, 2015). 1, pp.155159 bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (Schriewer et al, 2010; Ahmed et al, 2015) This fecal indicator bacterial species can be related with the microbiological quality of waters (McFeters et al, 1974), since it is a commensal bacteria present in the gastrointestinal tract of warm-blooded animals, including humans (Schriewer et al, 2010; Ahmed et al, 2015).
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