Uptake of Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae non-O1 and Enterococcus durans by, and depuration of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis).

The uptakes of Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae non-O1 and Enterococcus durans by mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and the times for depuration were investigated in order to determine the most useful indicator of vibrio contamination. The mussels were maintained in tanks of static seawater contaminated with bacteria at 5 log10 CFU/ml for bioaccumulation. Depuration was carried out by circulating fresh seawater through the tanks.