Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 4, 2026
Colorimetric Paper-based Detection of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes from Large Volumes of Agricultural Water
Published on: June 9, 2014
Method for rapid and sensitive detection of Enterococcus sp. and Enterococcus faecalis/faecium cells in potable water
Andrée F Maheux1, Luc Bissonnette, Maurice Boissinot
1Centre de recherche en infectiologie de l'Université Laval, Centre de recherche du CHUQ, Québec City, Québec, Canada.
A new rapid method detects Enterococcus bacteria in water within 5 hours, outperforming standard methods. This advanced technique improves the distinction between fecal and environmental enterococci, enhancing water quality monitoring.
Area of Science:
- Environmental microbiology
- Molecular biology
- Water quality assessment
Background:
- Enterococcus species are key indicators of fecal contamination in water.
- Current detection methods, like Method 1600, are time-consuming and may lack specificity.
- Rapid and accurate detection of Enterococcus is crucial for public health and environmental safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a rapid, molecular-based method for detecting Enterococcus sp. and specific species (Enterococcus faecalis/faecium) in water.
- To compare the performance of the new method against the standard Method 1600 in terms of speed, specificity, sensitivity, and limit of detection.
- To enhance the ability to differentiate between fecal and environmental sources of Enterococcus in water samples.
Main Methods:
- A novel approach combining membrane filtration, dissolution, molecular enrichment, and real-time PCR assays.
- Simultaneous detection of Enterococcus sp. and specific fecal indicator species (E. faecalis/faecium).
- Comparative analysis against Method 1600 using defined enterococcal and non-enterococcal strains and water samples.
Main Results:
- The developed assay detected 100% of Enterococcus sp. strains tested, significantly higher than Method 1600 (64.0%).
- The multiplexed assay achieved 100% detection for both E. faecalis and E. faecium strains.
- The new method detected 4.5 CFU/100 mL in under 5 hours, compared to Method 1600's 2.3 CFU/100 mL in 24 hours, with improved specificity for fecal origin.
Conclusions:
- The developed rapid molecular method offers a significant improvement over Method 1600 for Enterococcus detection in water.
- This innovative technique provides faster results and better discrimination between fecal and environmental enterococcal sources.
- The method is robust, sensitive, and suitable for rapid water quality monitoring, contributing to enhanced public health protection.
More Related Videos
12:11A Modified EPA Method 1623 that Uses Tangential Flow Hollow-fiber Ultrafiltration and Heat Dissociation Steps to Detect Waterborne Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp.
Published on: July 9, 2012
09:04Foodborne Pathogen Screening Using Magneto-fluorescent Nanosensor: Rapid Detection of E. Coli O157:H7
Published on: September 17, 2017