An Intercalibration Study of the Use of 4-Methylumbelliferyl-β-D-Glucuronide for the Specific Enumeration of Escherichia coli in Seawater and Marine Sediments

Summary A fluorogenic assay for the specific detection of Escherichia coli on the basis of its β-glucuronidase activity (MUG method) was applied to seawater and marine sediments with different contamination levels. The study was carried out in three Mediterranean areas (Malaga-Spain, Nice-France and Palermo-Sicily), using strictly standardized methods (membrane filtration), media (mFC and Chapman-TTC agars) and reagents, to evaluate statistically its sensitivity and specificity according to the origin and contamination of samples, the workers performing the tests and the selected culture media. The results obtained indicate that the MUG method is highly specific (94.5%) and sensitive (90.8%…