Relationship Between Indicators of Fecal Pollution in Shellfish-growing Water and the Occurrence of Human Pathogenic Microorganisms in Shellfish

Abstract

The suitability and efficiency of fecal indicators of pollution to determine the quality of shellfish-growing waters were studied in the estuary of Guadalhorce river (Málaga, Spain). A direct relationship between the concentration of indicator microorganisms in shellfish-growing waters and that of pathogens in shellfish (Cardium edule and Chamelea gallina) has not been established. However, in this study the log-normal distribution of the concentration of sulfite-reducer Clostridium spores, fecal streptococci, and coliphages showed a significant relationship with the detection of Salmonella, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Aeromonas hydrophila, respectively.