Role and behaviour of the hydrophobic conditions in bacterial adhesion to incurrent siphon in a bivalve mollusc.

Llanos, Jenny; García-Tello Patricio

Abstract

Surface hydrophobicity is a widely distributed characteristic among human bacterial pathogens playing an important role in microbes retention by the incurrent siphon of a marine bivalve. Feeding retention experiments with the bivalve Mesodesma donacium was done with hydrophobic strains alone (Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella paratyphi, Vibrio cholerae) or with mixed cultures using a hydrophilic strain (Aeromonas hydrophila). Results showed that hydrophobic bacteria are retained in greater numbers than hydrophilic bacteria. This difference is statistically significant. Hydrophobic strains also survive longer than hydrophilic ones in sea water. Surface hydrophobicity is to be considered as a factor influencing concentration of hydrophobic pathogens by filter feeding molluscs.

Más información

Título de la Revista: Acta Microbiol Pol.
Volumen: 49
Número: 1
Fecha de publicación: 2000
Página de inicio: 75
Página final: 82
Idioma: Inglés