OCCURRENCE OF ENTERIC AND NONENTERIC INDICATORS IN COASTAL WATERS OF SOUTHERN GREECE

A survey of the occurrence of enteric and non-enteric indicators in se awater was undertaken along the beaches of southern Greece during the summer 1988. Total coliforms, fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, Sta phylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aeromonas hydrophila, tota l fungi and Candida albicans were detected in 78.5%, 71.6%, 86.8%, 6.8 %, 12.4%, 5.6%, 89.4% and 3.7% of the 265 samples respectively. Fecal streptococci were recovered in 15.1% and 19.6% of the samples in which total coliforms and fecal coliforms respectively were not recovered. In 1.1% of the samples Staphylococcus aureus was isolated and both tot al coliforms and fecal coliforms were absent. Pseudomonas aeruginosa a nd Aeromonas hydrophila were recovered in 0.75% and 1.5% of the sample s in which total coliforms and fecal coliforms respectively were not p resent. Total fungi were recovered in 19.6% and 24.9% of the samples i n which total coliforms and fecal coliforms were not recovered. Candid a albicans was detected in 1.5% and 1.9% of the samples in which total coliforms and fecal coliforms were not detected. The validity of thes e supplementary bacterial water quality indicators is discussed and in dicate that the inclusion of fecal streptococci and total fungi monito ring with total and fecal coliform sampling may provide greater protec tion of public health in marine waters with high densities of swimmers .