Modified most-probable-number technique for the specific determination of Escherichia coli from environmental samples using a fluorogenic method

A specific and senstive modification of the most-probable-number (MPN) technique by addition of 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-glucuronide (MUG) to both presumptive and confirmatory media was performed. The use of this modification allows the precise determination of Escherichia coli from marine samples (seawater, sediment and shellfish) within 7 days compared to 10–12 days required by using of the standard methodology. No false-positive isolates for fluorescence reaction have been observed, although one E. coli strain fluorescent-positive on agar was isolated from nonfluorescent tubes. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the species most frequently detected from tubes with gas and fluorescence production …