Use of enzymatic methods for rapid enumeration of coliforms in freshwaters
Open Access
- 1 March 2000
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of Applied Microbiology
- Vol. 88 (3), 404-413
- https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2672.2000.00977.x
Abstract
Rapid enumeration methods based on the enzymatic hydrolysis of 4‐methylumbelliferyl‐β‐ d‐galactoside and 4‐methylumbelliferyl‐β‐ d‐glucuronide were optimized for freshwaters. The enzymes β‐ d‐galactosidase (GALase) and β‐ d‐glucuronidase (GLUase) were shown to be already induced in freshwaters when tested, respectively, with the inducers isopropyl‐β‐ d‐thiogalactopyranoside and methyl‐β‐ d‐glucuronide. Both enzymatic activities were compared, respectively, with plate counts of total and faecal coliforms in freshwaters. Enzymatic methods and reference plate counts were significantly correlated in log–log plots. Moreover, the GLUase method allowed the detection of viable (presenting a detectable GLUase activity) but nonculturable Escherichia coli.Keywords
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