Document Type
Article (Restricted)
Publication Date
5-10-2014
Abstract
The deltaic estuarine system of the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve of Malaysia is a site where several human settlements and brackish water aquaculture have been established. Here, we evaluated the level of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in the surface water and sediments. Higher levels of FIB were detected at downstream sampling sites from the fishing village, indicating it as a possible source of anthropogenic pollution to the estuary. Enterococci levels in the estuarine sediments were higher than in the surface water, while total coliforms and E. coli in the estuarine sediments were not detected in all samples. Also, various types of potentially pathogenic bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter cloacae were isolated. The results indicate that the Matang estuarine system is contaminated with various types of potential human bacterial pathogens which might pose a health risk to the public.
Keywords
CHROMagar Orientation, Enterobacteriaceae, Fecal indicators, Matang estuary, Potentially pathogenic bacteria
Divisions
Science
Funders
University of Malaya: High Impact Research Grant UM.C/625/1/HIR/MOHE/SC/20 (UM.S/P/HIR/MOHE/24) and UMRG (RG054/11BIO)
Publication Title
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume
83
Issue
1
Publisher
Elsevier
Additional Information
Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science Building, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA