Marine Science
p-ISSN: 2163-2421 e-ISSN: 2163-243X
2012; 2(1): 6-11
doi: 10.5923/j.ms.20120201.02
Robin R. S. 1, K.Vishnu Vardhan 2, Pradipta R.Muduli 2, M. Srinivasan 1, T. Balasubramanian 1
1Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences,Annamalai University, Parangipettai , 608502, India
2Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam , 530013, India
Correspondence to: Robin R. S. , Centre of Advanced Study in Marine Biology, Faculty of Marine Sciences,Annamalai University, Parangipettai , 608502, India.
Email: |
Copyright © 2012 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved.
Bacterial population in the coastal waters of southern Kerala was investigated at six selected transects. From the present study six major groups of enteric bacteria, viz, Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., Salmonella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio choleraeare screened. The distribution of enteric bacteria was more in the nearshore than the offshore environments and the highest occurrence was found along the Cochin transect followed by Neendakara attributed to indiscriminate discharge from the industrial effluents, harbour and municipal sewage enriched with enteric microbes.The minimum occurrence was encountered at Veli transect might be due to the acidic effluent discharged from Travancore Titanium Products Limited (TTP), seems to have severe drop in seawater pH and adversely affected proliferation of enteric pathogens.Relatively low bacterial load in the offshore stations compared to nearshore may be attributed to salinity variations and marginal stress from the saline water. The result of the study provides insight into the ecology of this aquatic species and is potentially important for the understanding of the epidemiology of enteric diseases on a regional scale.
Keywords: Southwest Coast Of India, Coastal Waters, Enteric Bacteria, Faecal Coliforms, Escherichia Coli, Vibrio Cholerae
Cite this paper: Robin R. S. , K.Vishnu Vardhan , Pradipta R.Muduli , M. Srinivasan , T. Balasubramanian , "Preponderance of Enteric Pathogens Along the Coastal Waters of Southern Kerala, Southwest Coast of India", Marine Science, Vol. 2 No. 1, 2012, pp. 6-11. doi: 10.5923/j.ms.20120201.02.
Figure 1. Study area with sampling sites |
Figure 2. Variation of (a) salinity and (b) pH along the southern Kerala coast |
Figure 3. Variation of TVC (CFU/ml) along the transects |
Figure 4. Variation of Faecal coliforms (CFU/ml) along the transects |
Figure 5. Variation of Shigellaspp. (CFU/ml) along the transects |
Figure 6. Variation of Salmonella spp. (CFU/ml) along the transects |
Figure 7. Variation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus (CFU/ml) along the transects |
Figure 8. Variation of Vibriocholerae (CFU/ml) along the transects |