

@article {14968,
	title = {Detection of viral pathogens by reverse transcriptase {PCR} and of microbial indicators by standard methods in the canals of the {Florida} {Keys}},
	journal = {Appl Environ Microbiol},
	volume = {65},
	year = {1999},
	month = {sep},
	pages = {4118{\textendash}25},
	abstract = {In order to assess the microbial water quality in canal waters throughout the Florida Keys, a survey was conducted to determine the concentration of microbial fecal indicators and the presence of human pathogenic microorganisms. A total of 19 sites, including 17 canal sites and 2 nearshore water sites, were assayed for total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens, enterococci, coliphages, F-specific (F(+)) RNA coliphages, Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium parvum, and human enteric viruses (polioviruses, coxsackie A and B viruses, echoviruses, hepatitis A viruses, Norwalk viruses, and small round-structured viruses). Numbers of coliforms ranged from {\textbackslash}textless1 to 1, 410, E. coli organisms from {\textbackslash}textless1 to 130, Clostridium spp. from {\textbackslash}textless1 to 520, and enterococci from {\textbackslash}textless1 to 800 CFU/100 ml of sample. Two sites were positive for coliphages, but no F(+) phages were identified. The sites were ranked according to microbial water quality and compared to various water quality standards and guidelines. Seventy-nine percent of the sites were positive for the presence of enteroviruses by reverse transcriptase PCR (polioviruses, coxsackie A and B viruses, and echoviruses). Sixty-three percent of the sites were positive for the presence of hepatitis A viruses. Ten percent of the sites were positive for the presence of Norwalk viruses. Ninety-five percent of the sites were positive for at least one of the virus groups. These results indicate that the canals and nearshore waters throughout the Florida Keys are being impacted by human fecal material carrying human enteric viruses through current wastewater treatment strategies such as septic tanks. Exposure to canal waters through recreation and work may be contributing to human health risks.},
	keywords = {*Water Microbiology, *Water Pollution, Clostridium/isolation \& purification, Coliphages/isolation \& purification, Colony Count, Enterobacteriaceae/*isolation \& purification, Enterococcus/isolation \& purification, Enterovirus/genetics/*isolation \& purification, Escherichia coli/isolation \& purification, Florida, Microbial, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction},
	issn = {0099-2240 (Print) 0099-2240 (Linking)},
	author = {Griffin, D. W. and Gibson, C. J. and Lipp, E. K. and Riley, K. and Paul, J. H. and Rose, J. B.}
}
