We present a method for the reliable detection and source characterisation of faecal pollution in water and shellfish matrices, utilising real-time PCR analysis of mitochondrial DNA targets. In this study we designed real-time PCR (TaqMan) probes to target human, bovine, ovine and swine mtDNA. PCR amplification using species-specific TaqMan probes on faecal matter and mixed effluent slurries revealed no cross-reactions between species of interest and other vertebrate faecal matter. Performed as a single blind experiment we were able to correctly identify faecal material in 17/20 effluents (85% correct). mtDNA degrades relatively quickly in faecally-spiked water samples (∼2 weeks), a similar timeframe of environmental persistence to several bacterial faecal indictors, highlighting its applicability. The procedure described here is specific, rapid (<5 hours) and sensitive. These results confirm the suitability of using species-specific mtDNA as an indicator in source tracking studies in surface waters, shellfish harvesting areas and shellfish matrices.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
Research Article|
January 01 2010
Application of mitochondrial DNA analysis for microbial source tracking purposes in shellfish harvesting waters
Craig Baker-Austin;
1Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth Laboratory, Weymouth Dorset, DT4 8UB, UK E-mail: rachel.rangdale@cefas.co.uk; james.lowther@cefas.co.uk; d.n.lees@cefas.co.uk
E-mail: craig.baker-austin@cefas.co.uk
Search for other works by this author on:
Rachel Rangdale;
Rachel Rangdale
1Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth Laboratory, Weymouth Dorset, DT4 8UB, UK E-mail: rachel.rangdale@cefas.co.uk; james.lowther@cefas.co.uk; d.n.lees@cefas.co.uk
Search for other works by this author on:
James Lowther;
James Lowther
1Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth Laboratory, Weymouth Dorset, DT4 8UB, UK E-mail: rachel.rangdale@cefas.co.uk; james.lowther@cefas.co.uk; d.n.lees@cefas.co.uk
Search for other works by this author on:
David N. Lees
David N. Lees
1Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth Laboratory, Weymouth Dorset, DT4 8UB, UK E-mail: rachel.rangdale@cefas.co.uk; james.lowther@cefas.co.uk; d.n.lees@cefas.co.uk
Search for other works by this author on:
Water Sci Technol (2010) 61 (1): 1–7.
Citation
Craig Baker-Austin, Rachel Rangdale, James Lowther, David N. Lees; Application of mitochondrial DNA analysis for microbial source tracking purposes in shellfish harvesting waters. Water Sci Technol 1 January 2010; 61 (1): 1–7. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2010.767
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Impact Factor 1.915
CiteScore 3.4 • Q2
13 days submission to first
decision
1,439,880 downloads in 2021
53
Views
14
Citations