The purpose of the present study is to compare five
different rep-PCR methods, including (GTG)5-PCR to discriminate
human from non-human (poultry: turkey, chicken,
duck; and wild birds: Canada goose and gull) sources of
fecal E. coli. These source groups have been identified as the
major contributors of emerging pathogens and/or antibiotic
resistance microorganisms in aquatic environments (Hatch,
1996; Alderisio & Deluca, 1999; WHO 2003; Cole et al.,
2005; Parveen et al., 2006). This appears to be the first report
to evaluate the comparative efficacy of five rep-PCR methods
in molecular discrimination of fecal E. coli isolates.
Additionally, this is also the first study to assess the potential
of (GTG)5-PCR in tracking the origin of environmental
E. coli isolates obtained from a natural pond.