Human source identification by using a human-associated Escherichia coli genetic marker in the Mae Klong River, Thailand.

Contamination caused by microbial fecal pollution in water bodies is a serious problem in many countries, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Therefore, fecal source tracking is an important method used to understand the source of fecal contamination and to decrease the hazard of waterborne diseases that occurs in the environment. In this study, a human-associated genetic marker for Escherichia coli (H8) was used to investigate the source of fecal contamination in the Mae Klong River, Thailand.