PROJECT ABSTRACT:
This research focused on enumeration of infective viruses from the Hudson River and related tributaries, in northeastern New York. Water samples were collected during Summer 2000. Techniques for viral enumeration included work using epifluorescence microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Detection of coliphage and coliform, organisms of concern for human health reasons, was accomplished using USEPA established protocols.
Coliform, E. coli and coliphage viruses were present at every site studied. Total bacteria were found to be 1.4 x 10^-4% coliforms and 2.4 x
10^ -6 % E. coli. Total viruses were found to contain 5.7 x 10^-6 % E. coli infective phage. On average, 3 infective viruses exist for every E. coli cell present, and about 5 % of bacterial cells are infected with bacteriophage. Samples from tributary sites were analyzed for correlation between microbial and nutrient indicators of septic pollution; no significant correlations were found.
This research provides a baseline study of the effects of viruses on bacterial populations, which are important in the Hudson River ecosystem. The study adds to knowledge of coliform and coliphage of potential human origin in Hudson drainage.
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