Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 7, 2026

A Duplex Digital PCR Assay for Simultaneous Quantification of the Enterococcus spp. and the Human Fecal-associated HF183 Marker in Waters
Published on: March 9, 2016
Alternative indicators of fecal pollution: relations with pathogens and conventional indicators, current
Olga Savichtcheva1, Satoshi Okabe
1Department of Urban and Environmental Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, North-13, West-8, 060-8628 Sapporo, Japan.
Abstract:
The ecological and survival characteristics of bacterial, viral and parasitic pathogens vary under environmental conditions, indicating that probably no single indicator organism can predict the presence of all enteric pathogens for all types of waters and different host-associated fecal pollution. If there are true correlations between indicator organisms and pathogens, it is necessary to find out to what extent and under which circumstances these organisms can be used as reliable indicators of fecal pollution. Application of conventional and alternative fecal indicators has greatly enhanced our abilities to predict and reduce health risk associated with the use of surface waters. New molecular-based techniques have shown that combined use of conventional and alternative indicators for fecal pollution increases both the detection sensitivity and specificity of fecal pollution and associated pathogens. In this review, we, therefore, summarize the advantages and limitations of conventional and alternative fecal indicators in terms of predicting pathogen presence as well as current and future methodologies for direct pathogen monitoring in environmental waters. This manuscript is mainly focused on the relationships between microbial fecal indicators and the presence of pathogens, which have not previously been summarized yet and could nicely supplement with recent literature reviews on microbial source tracking.
Related Concept Videos
Rapid Identification of Pathogens
Microbial Growth Measurement: Indirect Methods
Methods to Assess Microbial Populations
Microbial Growth Measurement: Direct Methods
Sources of Food Contamination
Methods to Assess Microbial Communities

