Coliform Bacteria In Water Research Articles

Relationships between fecal indicator abundance in water and sand and the presence of pathogenic genes in sand of recreational beaches.

For decades, the risk of exposure to infectious diseases in recreational beaches has been evaluated through the quantification of fecal indicator bacteria in water samples using culture methods. The analyses of sand samples have recently been developed as a complement to the monitoring of recreational waters in beach quality assessments. The growing use of molecular techniques for environmental monitoring allows for the rapid detection of pathogenic genes, thus providing more accurate information regarding the health risk of exposure to contaminated sand. The aim of this work was to determine the relationship between the fecal indicators abundance in water and sand and the presence of Shiga toxin-producer Escherichia coli (STEC) in sand by analyzing samples from touristic beaches using culture-dependent (fecal coliforms assay) and culture-independent (real-time PCR of stx1, stx2, and eae genes) techniques. We found a high concentration of coliform bacteria in water and sand in several beaches in eastern Uruguay, with different levels of sanitation networks and levels of urbanization. The presence of STEC virulence genes (mainly stx1) was confirmed in 8 out of 20 sand samples. The recreational use of sandy beaches may imply a risk to the health of its users, especially near streams and creek outflows, thus highlighting the need of monitoring sand bacteriological quality and pathogens using molecular tools.

Pollution by Agricultural Pesticides and Coliform Bacteria of Two Coastal Ecosystems in Sinaloa, Mexico and a Simple, Economic System for their Reduction

In agricultural valleys of coastal areas of Sinaloa State, Mexico, intensive agriculture has been developed with a high input of agrochemicals, particularly pesticides. This has resulted in an increase of coastal water pollution, which receives discharges from agricultural drains, channels, etc. Consequently, seafood extracted from these water bodies does not guarantee the safety required for human consumption. Therefore, during the dry and rainy seasons, February–June 2022 and July–September 2023 respectively, the amount and type of pesticides and coliform bacteria in water, sediments, as well as in clams and oysters (Anadara spp., Crassostrea, spp.) were evaluated in Altata bay and Ceuta bay, located in central part of Sinaloa, since they receive discharges from the agricultural valleys of Navolato and Culiacán; In addition, some pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella Spp., Vibrio ssp., etc., were determined to know the risk of mollusks consumption. Results indicated that pesticide pollution was from moderate to very high. Methoxychlor was the most frequent pesticide found, with values up to 509.607 μg/g-oyster tissue and 39.79 μg/L of water. The fecal coliform values in water ranged from 28 NMP/100 ml in March 2022 to 3609 NMP/100 ml in August 2023, while the total coliforms in mollusks were 136 NMP/g-tissue in clams in March, up to 9600 NMP/g in oysters in September, exceeding the permissible levels established in Mexican normativity. In some bivalve samples, pathogenic bacteria were found, such as Enterobacter agglomerans, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Vibrio alginolyticus, Aeromonas caviae, Listonella anguillarum, Pseudomonas mendocina, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter iwoffi. Finally, to reduce the pollutants amount in mollusks, a simple system was implemented, placing the mollusks in aquariums and using a pump (which circulates the aquariums water through filters), and small amounts of chlorine were added as a bactericidal agent. This treatment, by three weeks, decreased between 40% to 70% of the pesticides and coliform bacteria, respectively, improving the safety degree of mollusks and then risk to public health.

Factors Affecting Biofilms Formation in Drinking Water Distribution Systems

This article discusses the importance of microbiological safety in drinking water and the challenges drinking water treatment plants face in delivering a safe product. Biofilms, thin layers of microorganisms that adhere to surfaces and produce a slimy matrix of extracellular polymeric substances, can potentially cause health risks in drinking water if they contain harmful microorganisms. The article highlights the need for proper maintenance of the drinking water distribution system and regular testing for the presence of harmful microorganisms and other contaminants to minimize the risk of illness from biofilms. The study focuses on insufficient research on biofilms in drinking water distribution systems in Sulaimani City. It provides new and relevant information on the public health problems associated with their presence and describes current and emergent strategies for their control. The microbiological and Physio Chemical experiments were conducted on water samples from various water drinking sources in Sulaimani City to evaluate contamination of portable drinking water. Then, Most Probable Number (MPN) and Membrane Filtration methods were applied to collected water samples for the determination and presence of coliform bacteria in water. Moreover, Swab biofilm was employed within a different agar and distributed by an L shape. After that, 13 different physio-chemical tests were conducted on the previous experiments. Enterobacteriaceae had a moderately negative correlation (-0.764) with temperature and was statistically significant (Sig. = 0.000). Moreover, it was moderately positively correlated (0.416) with Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and statistically significant (Sig. = 0.038).

Study on antibacterial activity of various water storing vessels

Water used for human consumption must be safe and free from microbes. Storing water in copper has been used since long time in India, also evident in ancient texts of Ayurveda. Present study aims to evaluate the efficacy of various water storing vessels in purifying drinking water especially in terms of antibacterial (anti-Escherichia coli) activity. The water was collected from Waghur River, Jalgaon and stored in different vessels for 5 days like copper, stainless steel and plastic.Bacterial growth was observed before and after storage. We found the significant reduction in the number of coliform bacteria in water stored in copper vessels than stainless steel and plastic vessels. We observed the benefit of using a copper-based device, which is effective and cheap for storage of water and can be used to made bacteria free water. Keywords: Anti-Escherichia coli activity, Bacterial growth, Coliform bacteria

Effect of solar light on the decrease of microbial contamination in facultative stabilization pond

One of the indexes of stabilization pond is the presence of coliform bacteria in water and wastewater. This study aimed to determine the effect of solar light on coliform variations in stabilization pond. In this experimental study, the effect of light, pH (<7, 7.1–8, 8.1–9), and temperature (10 oC and 30 oC) on facultative stabilization pond was studied for six months. The sampling was accomplished weekly. Coliform colonies were measured using the nine tube fermentation method. The coliform deterioration constant was calculated using the Maraise model. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. The effect of light on coliform deterioration constant was negative. Also, low pH increased the coliform death. No significant statistical difference was seen at 10 oC and 30 oC (P < 0.05). Low temperature cannot be adherence for facultative stabilization pond. Regarding the positive effect of temperature on the coliform death, use of facultative stabilization pond in a warm climate is suggested.

Contamination of Coliform Bacteria in Water and Fishery Resources in Manila Bay Aquaculture Farms

Contamination of Coliform Bacteria in Water and Fishery Resources in Manila Bay Aquaculture Farms

Efektivitas Penerapan Disinfektan Alami Campuran Serbuk Kulit Nanas dan Arang Aktif dalam Menurunkan Jumlah Bakteri Coliform Pada Air Bersih

Coliform bacteria is an indicator of fecal water contamination. The number of coliform bacteria in water can cause illness in humans who consume the water. One of the efforts to decrease it is by using disinfectants. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of natu-ral disinfectant made from the mixture of pine-apple peels powder and activated charcoal for decreasing MPN Coliform in water. The study was a pre-experiment with one group pre-test post-test design. There were three variation of the disinfectants, i.e. 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 ratios, in two exposure times, and each was applied to 5 liters of coliform contaminated water, in three replications. The examination of water were conducted in Microbiology Laboratory of Environ-mental Health Department of Yogyakarta Polytechnic of Health. The result of statistical analysis by using paired t-test at ? 0,05 obtained a p value of 0,003; which means that the pre-test and post-test of the MPN Coliform were significantly different. The subsequent results by one way anova test at same ?, for 30 minutes exposure the obtained p-value was 0,249; and for 60 minutes exposure the p-value was 0,724. It means that the post-test examination of MPN Coli-form among the doses and time variations were not signifcantly different. Based on the results it can be concluded that the mixture of pineapple peels powder and activated charcoal as natural disinfectant affects the decrease pf MPN Coliform in water. However, the reduction differences among the three doses and the two exposure times under study were not significant.

AVALIAÇÃO MICROBIOLÓGICA DA ÁGUA DO ARROIO PESSEGUEIRINHO DE SANTA ROSA, NOROESTE DO ESTADO DO RIO GRANDE DO SUL

The Pessegueirinho river is in a state of emergency due to the high environmental degradationindex provided by the population which makes sewer network links directly into the River.Coliform bacteria do not cause disease by dwell the human gut, but the presence of coliformbacteria in water of a river means that this river received fecal material. The identification ofcoliforms is done easily, since bacteria belonging to this group will ferment the lactose of culturemedium, producing gases that are observed in test tubes. The diseases can be minimized byadopting practices of sanitation as collection and treatment of domestic sewage treatment andwater supply. In the study, we can observe that the River has the quality of its waters completelycompromised, unfit for human or animal consumption, for swimming or for irrigation of fruit orvegetables, for presenting a concentration above the permitted. This way, the treatment anddisposal of sewage would be the most important measures to reverse this situation of risk topublic health. These measures, together with a program of health education, would aim theclarification and the changing habits of the local population.

Quality of Water the Slum Dwellers Use: The Case of a Kenyan Slum

As a result of rapid urbanization in a context of economic constraints, the majority of urban residents in sub-Saharan Africa live in slums often characterized by a lack of basic services such as water and sewerage. Consequently, the urban poor often use inexpensive pit latrines and at the same time may draw domestic water from nearby wells. Overcrowding in slums limits the adequate distance between wells and pit latrines so that micro-organisms migrate from latrines to water sources. Sanitary practices in these overcrowded slums are also poor, leading to contamination of these wells. This study sought to assess sanitary practices of residents of a Kenyan urban slum and fecal contamination of their domestic water sources. This cross-sectional study involved 192 respondents from Langas slum, Kenya. Forty water samples were collected from the water sources used by the respondents for laboratory analysis of coliforms. Of these 40 samples, 31 were from shallow wells, four from deep wells, and five from taps. Multiple-tube fermentation technique was used to enumerate coliform bacteria in water. The study found that most people (91%) in the Langas slum used wells as the main source of domestic water, whereas the rest used tap water. Whereas most people used pit latrines for excreta disposal, a substantial percentage (30%) of children excreted in the open field. The estimated distance between the pit latrines and the wells was generally short with about 40% of the pit latrines being less than 15 m from the wells. The main domestic water sources were found to be highly contaminated with fecal matter. Total coliforms were found in 100% of water samples from shallow wells, while 97% of these samples from shallow wells were positive for thermotolerant coliforms. Three out of the four samples from deep wells were positive for total coliforms, while two of the four samples were positive for thermotolerant coliforms. None of the samples from taps were positive for either total or thermotolerant coliforms. Because the presence of thermotolerant coliforms in water indicates fecal contamination, facilitated by the proximity between the wells and pit latrines, the study suggests that the pit latrines were a major source of contamination of the wells with fecal matter. However, contamination through surface runoff during rains is also plausible as indiscriminate excreta disposal particularly by children was also common. Owing to the fecal contamination, there is a high possibility of the presence of disease pathogens in the water; thus, the water from the wells in Langas may not be suitable for human consumption. To address this problem, treatment of the water at community or household level and intensive behavioral change in sanitary practices are recommended. Efforts should be made to provide regulated tap water to this community and to other slums in sub-Saharan Africa where tap water is not accessible. However, more sampling of different water sources is recommended.

Monitoring of human enteric viruses and coliform bacteria in waters after urban flood in Jakarta, Indonesia

Floodwaters in Kampung Melayu village, Jakarta, Indonesia, as well as river water and consumable water (including groundwater and tap water) samples in flooded and non-flooded areas, were quantitatively analysed to assess occurrence of viruses and total coliforms and E. coli as bacterial indicators after flooding event. High numbers of enterovirus, hepatitis A virus, norovirus (G1, G2) and adenovirus were detected at high concentration in floodwaters and waters sampled from Ciliwung River which runs across metropolitan Jakarta and is used widely for agriculture and domestic purposes by poor residents. One out of three groundwater wells in the flooded area was contaminated with all viruses tested while no viruses were found in groundwater samples in non-flooded areas and tap water samples. The results revealed that human enteric viruses, especially hepatitis A virus and adenovirus, were prevalent in Jakarta, Indonesia. This study suggested that flooding posed a higher risk of viral infection to the people through contamination of drinking water sources or direct contact with floodwaters.

Evaluation of the methods for enumerating coliform bacteria from water samples using precise reference standards

To use BioBall cultures as a precise reference standard to evaluate methods for enumeration of Escherichia coli and other coliform bacteria in water samples. Eight methods were evaluated including membrane filtration, standard plate count (pour and spread plate methods), defined substrate technology methods (Colilert and Colisure), the most probable number method and the Petrifilm disposable plate method. Escherichia coli and Enterobacter aerogenes BioBall cultures containing 30 organisms each were used. All tests were performed using 10 replicates. The mean recovery of both bacteria varied with the different methods employed. The best and most consistent results were obtained with Petrifilm and the pour plate method. Other methods either yielded a low recovery or showed significantly high variability between replicates. The BioBall is a very suitable quality control tool for evaluating the efficiency of methods for bacterial enumeration in water samples.

Evaluation of three methods to clean feedlot water tanks

Three methods of physically or chemically cleaning cattle feedlot water tanks were tested for their ability to reduce amounts of coliform bacteria in the water and the surface of the tank (biofilm) during the summer months: in the first method, the water tank was drained and refilled; in the second method, the water tank was scrubbed with a bootbrush to loosen and remove any visible sediment, drained and refilled; and in the third method, water tank was scrubbed with a brush (as above), drained and refilled. Household chlorine bleach (5.25% Na hypochlorite) was added to the water tank to a final 1:32 dilution. The disinfectant solution was kept in the tank for 15 minutes before the tank was drained again and refilled. In Trial 1, we found that the first and second methods did not reduce coliform bacteria in water or biofilm. On the other hand, coliform bacteria in water and biofilm were reduced 99% (p=0.0003) and 99.9% (p&lt;0.0001), respectively, after draining, scrubbing and 15 minutes of chemical disinfection with chlorine bleach and refilling (method 3). However, coliforms returned to pretreatment levels 24 hours after treatment (p=0.12). In Trial 2, we demonstrated that the rapid re-population in coliform bacteria was due to the cattle drinking from the tanks (p=0.0003). These data indicate that coliform bacteria rapidly re-populate water tanks in the summer because cattle re-contaminate them with coliform bacteria and/or substrate. If the overall number of coliforms in a water tank reflects the likelihood of transmitting coliform bacteria from water tanks to cattle, then the benefits of cleaning and disinfecting water tanks to minimize the transmission of coliform bacteria to cattle are short-lived.

Evaluation of Coli-ID and MUG Plus media for recovering Escherichia coli and other coliform bacteria from groundwater samples

Several chromogenic media for detecting coliform bacteria in water are commercially available including Coli ID medium (ID) (bioMérieux) and MUG Plus cefsulodin agar (MP) (Laboratorios Microkit, S.L.). Since little is known about the performance of these media, we have evaluated their usefulness for recovering Escherichia coli and other coliform organisms in groundwaters used for direct human consumption. Variance analysis of obtained data showed that no statistically significant differences in counts of E. coli and other coliforms on ID and MP media compared with reference methods. However, the evaluation of sensitivity and recovery efficiency of both media showed that the two chromogenic media were more sensitive and significantly more efficient (P = < 0.05) than reference medium for detecting coliforms in groundwater. However, the identification of 400 typical and atypical colonies isolated from ID and MP media demonstrated a higher specificity when using ID for coliforms and E. coli. In summary, the two chromogenic media evaluated could be used as alternative methods to reference media for detecting and recovering coliform bacteria in groundwater samples. MP agar was more sensitive and efficient than ID agar whereas the latter was more specific and selective.

Improved method for the fluorimetric detection of β-D-galactosidase in water

A very convenient method to quantify coliform bacteria in water can probably be designed via the determination of the activity of the enzyme β-D-galactosidase, whose natural occurrence is, apart from less frequently occurring aeromonads mainly restricted to this type of microorganisms. 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-galactoside is used as substrate, which is hydrolyzed during the enzymatic reaction; the released 4-methylumbelliferone can be quantified fluorimetrically. In the present study the influence of various physical and chemical parameters on the determination is investigated and the experimental conditions are optimized. Most important entities are the pH value during hydrolysis, the presence of nutrients and co-factors in the sample, and the modification of the substrate. Statistical evaluation of the results obtained by changing single or multiple parameters reflects clearly their positive or negative influence on the enzyme activity. Thus, deliberate addition of surfactants, specific nutrients, salts and co-enzymes results in a significantly increased activity of β-D-galactosidase towards the substrate, which can be advantageously exploited to increase the sensitivity of the analytical method together with a decrease of the detection limit. The influence of the parameters and the optimized conditions of the improved analytical methods are presented.

Chlorine Injury and the Comparative Performance of Colisure™, Colilert™ and Coliquik™ for the Enumeration of Coliform Bacteria and E. coli in Drinking Water

Several factors have stimulated interest in recently developed substrate specific media for the detection of coliform bacteria in water. This study compared the performance of Colisure (TM) (Millipore), ColiLert (TM) (Environetics) and ColiQuick (TM) (Hach) with accepted membrane filtration and MPN methodologies for the enumeration of total coliforms and E. coli in chlorinated water. The performance of all three media was compared, in MPN configuration, with LTB/MPN (confirmed) using a variety of drinking and source water samples, both with and without chlorination. The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel test yielded statistical correlations between results obtained with each of the three new enzyme detection media and accepted reference methods for the detection of low numbers of total coliforms. Another series of tests compared the performance of Colisure with accepted methods (LTB/MPN confirmed with BGLB and EC-MUG) in the detection of total coliforms and E. coli in sewage-spiked samples simulating contaminated drinking water, using an USEPA/AWWA test protocol. The results demonstrated that Colisure detected these indicator bacteria with greater sensitivity than the accepted methods and that this difference increased between 24 and 28 hours of incubation. The results of this study collectively support the validity of the new enzyme detection method for the detection of low levels of coliform bacteria and E. coli in source water and contaminated drinking water.

Detection of coliform bacteria in water by polymerase chain reaction and gene probes

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and gene probe detection of regions of two genes, lacZ and lamB, were tested for their abilities to detect coliform bacteria. Amplification of a segment of the coding region of Escherichia coli lacZ by using a PCR primer annealing temperature of 50 degrees C detected E. coli and other coliform bacteria (including Shigella spp.) but not Salmonella spp. and noncoliform bacteria. Amplification of a region of E. coli lamB by using a primer annealing temperature of 50 degrees C selectively detected E. coli and Salmonella and Shigella spp. PCR amplification and radiolabeled gene probes detected as little as 1 to 10 fg of genomic E. coli DNA and as a few as 1 to 5 viable E. coli cells in 100 ml of water. PCR amplification of lacZ and lamB provides a basis for a method to detect indicators of fecal contamination of water, and amplification of lamB in particular permits detection of E. coli and enteric pathogens (Salmonella and Shigella spp.) with the necessary specificity and sensitivity for monitoring the bacteriological quality of water so as to ensure the safety of water supplies.

Evaluation of Growth Media for the Recovery of Escherichia Coli from Ozone-Treated Water by Membrane Filtration

Abstract The standard membrane filtration methods for total coliforms and fecal coliforms were evaluated for their ability to recover injured E. coli ATCCR 11775, from ozone-treated water. m-T7 Agar was considered as an alternative growth medium at 35°C and 44.5°C. Seven batch experiments revealed that m-T7 agar recovered significantly (Pr 0.05) more E. coli than Standard Methods at each incubation temperature. m-T7 Agar incubated at 35°C had the best overall recovery of ozonated E. coli. The results were consistent with other reports in the literature regarding the inadequacy of standard selective growth media for the enumeration of injured coliform bacteria in water.

A preliminary survey of the relative abundance of fecal coliform bacteria in water and sediment and in the fresh water bivalve,Lamellidens marginalis, of the Buriganga river, Bangladesh

Studies on the concentration of fecal coliforms in freshwater bivalves were carried out using a spread plate method and membrane fecal coliform medium. Water, sediment, and bivalves collected from the Buriganga River at Dhaka, Bangladesh, were examined. As demonstrated in many previous studies, fecal coliform counts were consistently higher for the bivalve tissue than those for water and sediment samples; in the bivalveLamellidens marginalis, they were ∼10.0- to 87.0-fold higher than those in water, and 2.0- to 11.0-fold higher than those in sediment.

Coastal Pollution from Septic Tank Drainfields

Wet weather and dry weather sampling is utilized to monitor densities of coliform bacteria in waters draining residential areas of coastal North Carolina. The bacterial levels are compared to different densities of unsewered residences in each watershed and the limitations of the developed soils for assimilating septic tank effluent. An analysis of the data implicates septic tank drainfields installed in unsuitable soils as a major source of contamination of these shellfish waters. In order to reduce the threat to public health and the multimillion dollar economic loss to the fishing industry, several options are presented for rehabilitating concentrations of failing septic tank systems and for modifying overdesigned drainage systems that carry the contamination directly to shellfish waters. In addition, several common sense management practices that minimize the delivery of bacterial contamination to estuarine waters are suggested for use in siting future coastal residential development.

Evaluation of standard and modified M-FC, MacConkey, and Teepol media for membrane filtration counting of fecal coliforms in water.

MacConkey agar, standard M-FC agar, M-FC agar without rosolic acid, M-FC agar with a resuscitation top layer, Teepol agar, and pads saturated with Teepol broth, were evaluated as growth media for membrane filtration counting of fecal coliform bacteria in water. In comparative tests on 312 samples of water from a wide variety of sources, including chlorinated effluents, M-FC agar without rosolic acid proved the medium of choice because it generally yielded the highest counts, was readily obtainable, easy to prepare and handle, and yielded clearly recognizable fecal coliform colonies. Identification of 1,139 fecal coliform isolates showed that fecal coliform tests cannot be used to enumerate Escherichia coli because the incidence of E. coli among fecal coliforms varied from an average of 51% for river water to 93% for an activated sludge effluent after chlorination. The incidence of Klebsiella pneumoniae among fecal coliforms varied from an average of 4% for the activated sludge effluent after chlorination to 32% for the river water. The advantages of a standard membrane filtration procedure for routine counting of fecal coliforms in water using M-FC agar without rosolic acid as growth medium, in the absence of preincubation or resuscitation steps, are outlined.