a UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR 7621, LOMIC, Observatoire Océanologique, F-66650, Banyuls/mer, France
b CNRS, UMR 7621, LOMIC, Observatoire Océanologique, F-66650, Banyuls/mer, France
c AES-CHEMUNEX, R&D department, F-94854, Ivry/seine, France
Abstract:
A fluorescent in situ hybridization based assay was used to enumerate viable Enterobacteriaceae members in seawaters by solid phase cytometry. The method was specific, highly sensitive (1 cell/100 ml) and allowed the quantification of VNC Enterobacteriaceae cells during an osmotic stress. Investigations on contaminated coastal seawater revealed a strong correlation between Enterobacteriaceae counts and standard fecal indicators.