Existing Methods of Waterborne Pathogen Detection - Waterborne Pathogens: Detection Methods and Applications - page 47

Table 3.1 Characteristics of conventional and alternative fecal indicators in terms of prediction of fecal pollution and associated pathogens

Conventional fecal indicators

Criteria for fecal
indicators

Fecal streptococci and
enterococci Total and fecal coliforms E. coli

Presence in the feces
and environmental
waters

Present in feces of
warm-blooded animals;
positive correlation with fecal
material; however, nonfecal
source in wastewaters and in
tropical areas

Present in feces of
warm-blooded animals;
more specific indicator of
fecal contamination; however,
nonfecal source in tropical
areas

Present in feces of
warm-blooded animals; not
exclusively of fecal origin

Ability to multiply and
survive in water
environment

Regrowth in aquatic
environment; limited
survival in water; weakness
to water treatment process

Variable survival in nonhost
environments; possibility for
regrowth in tropical and
temperate environments

Rapid inactivation in the first
contact with environment;
regrowth caused by tides
and sediments

Correlation with
pathogens or
waterborne disease

Poor correlations with enteric
pathogens

Present at higher concentrations
than pathogens

Similar persistence to those of
some waterborne pathogens;
high correlation with
gastrointestinal symptoms

Applied methodology Time consuming

culture-dependent detection
methods; inability to identify
the source of fecal
contamination

Normally not pathogenic to
humans; ability to identify the
origin of fecal contamination
by phenotypic and molecular
methods

Inability to provide selective
medium for all groups with
taxonomical and ecological
heterogeneity and different
levels of sanitary significance;
ability to identify the origin
of fecal contamination by
phenotypic methods (ARA)