Analysis of microbiological quality of two tropical beaches: relationship of fecal contamination indicators between seawater and sands
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Abstract
Microbial populations in beach sands, and its influence on the surrounding seawater, may be associated with health risks on tourists visiting the beaches. The aim of this study was to d the levels of fecal contamination between sand and water of two beaches of the pacific coast of Costa Rica, in addition to determining the relationship between these two matrices. Fecal coliforms, E. coli and Enterococcus spp. were analyzed by the technique of Multiple Tubes Fermentation (MPN) Higher levels of Enterococcus spp. were found in the dry sands than in wet sand and sea waters. Results showed positive correlations of indicators organisms between sand and seawater in Jaco beach. Analysis of the results suggests that contamination of the seawater is highly influenced by the microbial populations in the sands. However, more data and studies are needed to understand the behavior of microbial populations in beach sands and its relation to the pollution of seawater.
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