2000): A PCR assay to discriminate human and ruminant feces on the basis of host differences in Bacteroides-Prevotella genes encoding 16S rRNA. - Appl Environ Microbiol 66

Our purpose was to develop a rapid, inexpensive method of diagnosing the source of fecal pollution in water. In previous research, we identified Bacteroides-Prevotella ribosomal DNA (rDNA) PCR markers based on analysis. These markers length heterogeneity PCR and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism distinguish cow from human feces. Here, we recovered 16S rDNA clones from natural waters that were close phylogenetic relatives of the markers. From the sequence data, we designed specific PCR primers that discriminate human and ruminant sources of fecal contamination. The inability to identify the source of fecal contamination is partly to blame for the persistent problem of fecal pollution in coastal and inland waters. Although methods exist to quantify fecal pollution, none quickly and accurately identifies the an-imal source. Antibiotic resistance patterns of fecal streptococci (8, 16, 17) and Escherichia coli ribosomal DNA (rDNA) track-ing (14; D. Akre and J. Wilcox, Northwest Algal Symp. Pacific Estuarine Res. Soc. Joint Meet., 1998) have recently emerged as potentially useful, but labor-intensive, solutions t