Investigating an avian source of shellfish faecal contamination in the Thau lagoon (the Mediterranean, France)
2009
Derolez, Valerie | Serais, Ophelie | Caprais, Marie-paule | Le Saux, Jean-claude | Messiaen, Gregory
Microbes regularly contaminate Thau lagoon shellfish. Between 1997 and 2007, 18% of the analyses carried out in dry weather recorded more than 230 Escherichia coli / 100 g of bivalves (Ifremer French microbial monitoring network), leading the administration to restrict the shellfish harvest area, including suspension of production. This study aims to determine, the contribution of seabirds, which roost at night on the Thau lagoon shellfish growing frames, to shellfish faecal pollution in dry weather.Data were collected in 2008 from both the drainage area (pollution input) and the lagoon (water quality and microbial monitoring, seabird counts) in dry weather. The data showed that, with no watershed input or lagoon resurgence, microbial contaminants were present in shellfish under oyster farming structures used by seabirds, particularly at night, as roosting areas. Shellfish contamination levels were higher under roosting areas than under control structures. Initial results of F+ specific RNA bacteriophage genotyping in shellfish samples suggested contamination of animal origin.
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