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Bighiu, Maria Alexandra, 2012. Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) for assessing microbial contamination and antibiotic resistant bacteria in freshwaters. Second cycle, A2E. Uppsala: SLU, Dept. of Energy and Technology

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Abstract

The suitability of zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) as biomonitoring organisms for faecal contamination of surface waters was examined in both laboratory and field experiments. In addition, the presence of antibiotic resistant bacteria was investigated. In the first two laboratory experiments, the mussels were first exposed to a known concentration of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus facecalis and then depurated. In the other two experiments, the mussels were exposed to a tenfold dilution of sewage treatment plant effluent and then depurated. Zebra mussels showed a maximum uptake and elimination rate during the first hours after exposure to contaminated, and respectively, clean water. The field experiment was conducted at 6 sites located upstream and downstream from the sewage treatment plant outlet in the Fyris river (Uppsala, Sweden). During the 19 days of exposing caged mussels, the presence of faecal indicators, as well as Salmonella spp. was investigated. All the experiments demonstrated the ability of the zebra mussels to accumulate much higher concentrations of bacteria than in the surrounding water. This is in accordance with the work of previous studies and sustains the usefulness of zebra mussels in detecting bacterial peaks. Salmonella spp. was found on three occasions at the outlet, in both mussels and water, and on two occasions in the water downstream. All the E. coli and 41.3 % of the Enterococcus spp. isolates from both water and mussels were resistant to at least one antibiotic. A large percentage (48.5 %) of those found in mussels was multi drug resistant, thus providing evidence for this emerging problem that needs to be controlled.

Main title:Zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha) for assessing microbial contamination and antibiotic resistant bacteria in freshwaters
Authors:Bighiu, Maria Alexandra
Supervisor:Ottoson, Jakob and Norman Haldén, Anna and Goedkoop, Willem
Examiner:Vinnerås, Björn
Series:Examensarbete / Institutionen för energi och teknik, SLU
Volume/Sequential designation:2012:08
Year of Publication:2012
Level and depth descriptor:Second cycle, A2E
Student's programme affiliation:NM001 Environmental Pollution and Risk Assesment - Master's Programme 120 HEC
Supervising department:(NL, NJ) > Dept. of Energy and Technology
Keywords:Biomonitoring, Zebra mussel, Dreissena polymorpha, faecal contamination, antibiotic resistance, E. coli, Enterococcus
URN:NBN:urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-1645
Permanent URL:
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:slu:epsilon-s-1645
Subject. Use of subject categories until 2023-04-30.:Water resources and management
Pollution
Language:English
Deposited On:14 Sep 2012 10:16
Metadata Last Modified:29 Aug 2019 10:51

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