Document Type

Report

Department/Program

Virginia Institute of Marine Science

Publication Date

1978

Abstract

The ability of an electrochemical detection method to predict viable numbers of fecal coliforms was evaluated under laboratory conditions with respect to seawater adjusted to various salinities and temperatures. The viability of an Escherchia coli isolat~ as measured by the spread plate technique utilizing non-selective media was unaffected after 12 wk exposure at 2°C and 25 °100 salinity. At higher temperatures (15-30°C) both the total decrease in cell numbers as well as the rates of die-off were greater than at 2°C. There was little apparent difference in viability across the temperature range 15-30°C. Viability was observed to be inversely related to salinity over the range 10-30 °100. Stress was measured using the electrochemical detection method (ECDM) and defined as the difference between the predicted endpoint response time (ER) calculated from a standard curve and the observed ER time. Seawater of higher salinities generally produced greater stress. (...)

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