Title: Rapid detection of pathogenic bacteria in surface water by PCR with universal primer

Authors: Y.J. Liu, C.M. Zhang, X.C. Wang, X.P. Xue, Y. Sun

Addresses: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, PR China. ' School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, PR China. ' School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, PR China. ' Faculty of Life Sciences, Northwestn Polytechnical University, No. 127 Youyi west Road, Xi'an 710072, PR China. ' School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, No. 13 Yanta Road, Xi'an 710055, PR China

Abstract: A rapid PCR method was developed by utilising a pair of universal primers which targeted four bacteria strains, namely Shigella dysenteriae, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli. The bacteria from several water bodies in the urban area of Xi|an City were detected by PCR, and the comparison was made with the conventional method. As a result, the detection limit of the DNA of bacteria was 250 ng/L and the sensibility of PCR detection was 27.5 cfu/100 mL. The PCR method established by this study provides a more reliable approach for the assessment of bacteriological risk of water environment.

Keywords: universal primers; pathogenic bacteria; polymerase chain reaction; surface water; bacteriological risk; public health; waterborne diseases.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2009.026659

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2009 Vol.38 No.1/2, pp.166 - 179

Published online: 22 Jun 2009 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article