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Salmonella spp., Vibrio spp., Clostridium perfringens, and Plesiomonas shigelloides in Marine and Freshwater Invertebrates from Coastal California Ecosystems

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Abstract

The coastal ecosystems of California are highly utilized by humans and animals, but the ecology of fecal bacteria at the land–sea interface is not well understood. This study evaluated the distribution of potentially pathogenic bacteria in invertebrates from linked marine, estuarine, and freshwater ecosystems in central California. A variety of filter-feeding clams, mussels, worms, and crab tissues were selectively cultured for Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli-O157, Clostridium perfringens, Plesiomonas shigelloides, and Vibrio spp. A longitudinal study assessed environmental risk factors for detecting these bacterial species in sentinel mussel batches. Putative risk factors included mussel collection near higher risk areas for livestock or human sewage exposure, adjacent human population density, season, recent precipitation, water temperature, water type, bivalve type, and freshwater outflow exposure. Bacteria detected in invertebrates included Salmonella spp., C. perfringens, P. shigelloides, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and Vibrio alginolyticus. Overall, 80% of mussel batches were culture positive for at least one of the bacterial species, although the pathogens Campylobacter, E. coli-O157, and Salmonella were not detected. Many of the same bacterial species were also cultured from upstream estuarine and riverine invertebrates. Exposure to human sewage sources, recent precipitation, and water temperature were significant risk factors for bacterial detection in sentinel mussel batches. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that filter-feeding invertebrates along the coast concentrate fecal bacteria flowing from land to sea and show that the relationships between anthropogenic effects on coastal ecosystems and the environmental niches of fecal bacteria are complex and dynamic.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by the National Sea Grant College Program under NOAA grant NAO6RG0142 Project R/CZ-180, through the California Sea Grant College Program; and in part by the California State Resources Agency and the California Department of Fish & Game. This study was also supported by the University of California Water Resources Program, Wildlife Health Center, Center for Food Animal Health, and the NIH NIGMS Professors of the Future Program. The assistance of Gary Ichikawa at the California State Mussel Watch Program, Bryn Phillips at the Granite Canyon Marine Laboratory, Paul Olin at the California Sea Grant College Program, David Lewis at the University of California Cooperative Extension, the California Fish and Game staff, local stakeholders, and University of California students is appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    W. A. Miller, I. A. Gardner, B. A. Byrne, S. Jang, A. Melli & P. A. Conrad

  2. California Department of Fish and Game, Marine Wildlife Veterinary Care and Research Center, Santa Cruz, CA, 95060, USA

    M. A. Miller, M. Harris, J. Ames & D. Jessup

  3. Veterinary Medicine Teaching and Research Center, University of California, Davis, Tulare, CA, 93274, USA

    E. R. Atwill

  4. Bay Foundation of Morro Bay, Los Osos, CA, 93412, USA

    D. Paradies

  5. Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401, USA

    K. Worcester

  6. VM-PMI, 1126 Haring Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616, USA

    W. A. Miller

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  1. W. A. Miller
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Correspondence to W. A. Miller.

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Miller, W.A., Miller, M.A., Gardner, I.A. et al. Salmonella spp., Vibrio spp., Clostridium perfringens, and Plesiomonas shigelloides in Marine and Freshwater Invertebrates from Coastal California Ecosystems. Microb Ecol 52, 198–206 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-006-9080-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00248-006-9080-6

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