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Appl. Environ. Microbiol. doi:10.1128/AEM.00331-08
Copyright (c) 2008, American Society for Microbiology and/or the Listed Authors/Institutions. All Rights Reserved.

Real-time PCR detection of pathogenic microorganisms in roof-harvested rainwater in Southeast Queensland, Australia

Department of Natural Resources, and Water, 80 Meiers Road Indooroopilly, Brisbane 4068, Australia; School of Life Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane 4001, Australia; School of Urban Development, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane 4001, Australia

	Abstract

In this study, the microbiological quality of roof-harvested rainwater was assessed by monitoring the concentrations of Escherichia coli, enterococci, Clostridium perfringens and Bacteroides spp. in Southeast Queensland, Australia. Samples were also tested using the real-time PCR (SYBR Green I dye) for the presence of potential pathogenic microorganisms. Of the 27 rainwater samples tested, 17 (63%), 21 (78%), 13 (48%), and 24 (89%) were positive for E. coli, enterococci, C. perfringens and Bacteroides spp., respectively. Of the 27 samples, 11 (41%), 7 (26%), 4 (15%), 3 (11%) and 1 (4%) were PCR positive for C. coli ceuE gene, L. pneumophila mip gene, A. hydrophila lip gene, Salmonella invA gene, and C. jejuni mapA gene. Of the 21 samples tested, 4 (19%) were positive for G. lamblia -giardin gene. Binary logistic regressions model indicted a positive correlation (P < 0.02) between enterococci and A. hydrophila. In contrast, the presence/absence of the remaining potential pathogens did not correlate with traditional fecal indicators. The poor correlation between fecal indicators and potential pathogens suggesting that fecal indicators may not be adequate to assess the microbiological quality of rainwater and consequent health risk.