Thermotolerant Coliform Bacteria Research Articles

Thermotolerant coliform bacteria present in water bodies

This work comprehensively reviews the Occurrence of Thermotolerant Coliforms in Waters Intended for Human Consumption. The research explores a multifaceted question at the intersection of public health, microbiology, and environmental science, shedding light on the prevalence of thermotolerant coliforms in drinking water sources. This review investigates the various types of thermotolerant coliforms commonly found in water sources intended for human consumption. An extensive literature examination establishes the importance of recognizing these organisms and their potential for water contamination, emphasizing the urgency of practical water quality assessment and monitoring.

Grau de cumprimento das boas práticas de fabricação e perfil microbiológico de linguiças frescas mistas

Abstract Good manufacturing practices in production facilities are necessary to control microbiological growth and prevent foodborne illnesses. Among the various foods that can be contaminated by intensive handling, meat products such as fresh sausages stand out. With this in mind, the aim of this study was to establish a microbiological profile of the fresh sausages produced in the municipality of Alegrete-RS, Brazil, as part of the SIM/SISBI inspection between 2014 and 2016 and to promote and evaluate the producing establishments in terms of compliance with good manufacturing practices. Samples were regularly taken from 10 businesses in the city and tested for thermotolerant coliform bacteria, sulphitereducing Clostridium, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus and Salmonella spp. In addition, the adequacy of good manufacturing practices was assessed and measures in the form of questionnaires, guidelines and training to improve the production chain were implemented in these companies. Over the years, significant improvements in compliance with good manufacturing practices have been observed in the production units. The microbial count of thermotolerant coliforms, sulphite-reducing Clostridium, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus and Salmonella spp. decreased significantly, indicating that the interventions contributed to improving the microbiological profile of the fresh sausage produced in the community.

Сравнительная гигиеническая оценка качественного состава питьевой воды централизованной системы водоснабжения в отдельных районах г. Рязани

INTRODUCTION: Providing the population with drinking water that meets national standards is one of the urgent problems. In connection with the use of ground and surface waters for water supply in Ryazan and their different proportions in the water supply system, the quality of drinking water in individual districts of the city may have special features. AIM: Comparative hygienic assessment of the qualitative composition of drinking water of the centralized water supply system in the residential districts of Ryazan. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The results of laboratory quality control of drinking water of central water supply system for the period from 2012–2021 were analyzed according to the monitoring data of the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Ryazan Region. The calculation of the average many-year concentrations and the percentage of samples that do not meet hygienic requirements, was carried out. For statistical processing, the method of analysis of variance and Scheffe and Tamhein tests for paired comparisons were used, taking into account the results of Levene test. Statistical parameters were calculated in SPSS Statistics 19 software. RESULTS: Excess hardness of drinking water was recorded in all districts of the city, with the proportion of such samples ranging from 0.8% (Solotcha) to 74.1% (Stroitel). The average value of the total water hardness in Stroitel district was the highest, 7,554 mg-eq./l, exceeding the hygienic norm. In most districts, with the exception of Kanishchevo, Diagilevo, Zheleznodorozhny and Sovetsky, water samples (0.9–2.7%) were recorded that did not meet hygienic requirements for the content of generalized and thermotolerant coliform bacteria. The average many-year concentration of iron (2+) in the drinking water of the centralized water supply system of the village of Solotcha 2.5 times exceeded the MPC (0.3 mg/l) and was significantly higher than in the compared territories, and in 64.6% of samples its one-time concentrations did not correspond to the hygienic norm. In the territories of the districts: Dashkovo-Pesochnya, Kanishchevo, Mirny, Sovetsky and Zheleznodorozhny, the proportions of water samples with one-time concentrations of aluminum exceeding the MPC (0.2 mg/l) ranged from 1.5% (CI 95%; 0.3–8.2%) to 6.1% (CI 95%; 2.4–14.6%). One-time concentrations of boron above the MPC (0.5 mg/l) were recorded in drinking water in all districts of the city with the exception of Diaghilevo and Oktyabrsky, and ranged from 1.0% (CI 95%; 0.2–5.2%) to 1.9% (CI 95%; 0.52–6.68%). The average many-year concentration of cadmium in the drinking water of Dashkovo–Pesochnya residential area was 0.0006 mg/l and 1.9-14 times exceeded that in other districts of the city (p < 0.05), while the proportion of water samples where one-time concentrations of this toxicant exceeded the MPC (0.001 mg/l) was 4.7%. Also, cadmium concentrations exceeded the hygienic standard at the control points of water supply network in Mirny (in 2.9% of samples), Sovetsky and Zheleznodorozhny districts (0.9% of samples in each). One-time concentrations of nickel most often exceeded the respective MPC (0.02 mg/l) in the drinking water of Dashkovo-Pesochnya and Solotcha residential areas making 10.9% (CI 95%; 4.7–23.0%) and 11.1% (CI 95%; 4.8–23.5%), respectively, and least often of Mirny and Moskovsky areas — 2.2% (CI 95%; 0.4–1.3%) (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The territorial features of the qualitative composition of drinking water of the centralized water supply system of the city of Ryazan are determined, consisting in higher average values of individual parameters and the percentages of samples that do not meet hygienic standards for hardness in Stroitel, Sovetsky, Zheleznodorozhny and Dashkovo-Pesochnya districts; for the content of sanitary-indicative microorganisms — in Stroitel, Dashkovo-Pesochnya, Mirny and Oktyabrsky; for the iron content (2+) — in Stroitel, Zheleznodorozhny, Oktyabrsky, Kanishchevo and Solotcha; for boron — in Stroitel; for cadmium — in Dashkovo-Pesochna and Mirny; for nickel — in Dashkovo-Pesochna and Solotcha; for lead — in Stroitel and Mirny.

Influence of chemicals contained in drinking water on the formation of the risk of health disorders in the population of an industrial city

Introduction. The state of drinking water supplied to consumers through centralized water supply systems is an important factor affecting health.
 The study aims to assess the risk to the health of the population of an industrial city associated with the content of chemicals in tap water.
 Materials and methods. Scientists conducted a study in Novokuznetsk, Kemerovo region, which is a major industrial center of Siberia. They analyzed the average annual values of chemical, microbiological and parasitological indicators of surface waters at the intake gates, as well as the results of studies of drinking water samples. The authors also assessed non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks to public health associated with contamination of tap water.
 Results. The surface water supplied to the consumers of Novokuznetsk is taken from the Tom River by the Dragoon and Left-Bank water intakes. The main pollutants of water in the intake gates are suspended solids, iron, common coliform bacteria, thermotolerant coliform bacteria and coliphages. The most dangerous impurities contained in drinking water are silicon, chloroform, bromodichloromethane, boron and formaldehyde. The risk of immediate action associated with contamination of drinking water for the city's population was 0.903, which significantly exceeds the acceptable level (0.05). We identified the risk of chronic intoxication associated with water pollution at the level of 0.0176, which does not exceed the permissible level (0.02). The risk of oncological morbidity associated with the content of carcinogenic substances in drinking water was 1.41×10–5, which is 1.41 times higher than the permissible risk (1×10–5).
 Limitations. The limitations of the study were to conduct only an assessment of the health risk from the effects of chemicals.
 Conclusion. The probability of occurrence of environmentally caused diseases persists at concentrations of pollutants in drinking water at a level below the accepted hygienic standards.
 Ethics. This study did not require the conclusion of the Ethics Committee.

Plasmid-Borne Mobile Colistin Resistant Gene (Mcr-1) Detection and Multidrug Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Some Abattoir Environments in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Antibiotics resistance is an increasing public health challenge globally, and very recently, global attention has focused on colistin, which is termed “last resort antibiotics”. This study was aimed at investigating the prevalence of plasmid-borne mobile colistin resistant and multidrug resistant bacteria from 6 major abattoirs located in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Two hundred and eighty-eight samples from fresh water, wastewater, utensils, and handlers were obtained over a 6-months period. Mean mesophilic aerobic bacteria (MAB) and thermotolerant coliform bacteria (TCB) were determined by pour plate method, while the indoor air of the abattoirs was sampled using passive sedimentation technique. Bacterial isolates were identified by morphological, biochemical and 16S rRNA analysis. Phenotypic detection of colistin-resistance as well as multi-drug resistant profile of all isolates was done by the modified Kirky Bauer method. The presence and/or absence of colistin-resistance gene (mcr-1 to mcr-8) were investigated by polymerase chain reaction. The MAB ranged from 0.3 ± 0.0 cfu/m3 in indoor air from both Holy Ghost B and Bob Izua abattoir to 2.6 ± 0.3 cfu/ml in wash water from Holy Ghost A abattoir, while the TCB ranged from 0.0 ± 0.0 cfu/ml in wastewater from Lawal and Sons abattoir to 0.6 ± 0.1 cfu/ml in wash water from Osazee abattoir. A total of 149 bacterial isolates, belonging to 6 different species (Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01, Enterobacter ludwigii EN-119, Providencia stuartii PRV00010, Klebsiella quasipneumoniae strain KqPF26, Enterococcus saccharolyticus ATCC 43076 and Provincia rettgeri strain AR_0082) were obtained with the majority (>90%) being multidrug resistant. Seven (4.7%) of the isolates were phenotypically resistant to colistin, while only 3 harbored the mcr-1 gene. This result shows that plasmid-borne colistinresistant and multidrug resistant bacteria are prevalent in abattoir environment located in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. This is an indication that abattoir facilities could be a source of human exposure to colistin resistant bacteria, and efforts must be made at reducing the high dependence of antibiotics in farm animals.

Physical and Chemical Properties of Silver-Containing Nanosorbent Obtained from Rice Straw Biochar

Improving the quality of natural water purification is one of the priority areas in the research conducted by scientific communities in the field of ecology. At the same time, the task is to achieve the optimal efficiency of the technological process at a low cost. The solution, in this case, is the use of materials necessary for cleaning, in particular, sorbents from natural raw materials, including agricultural waste. At present, a sufficient number of research results have been published confirming the effectiveness of the sorbent from biochar from various types of agricultural waste, as well as from rice straw biochar (RSB). This article proposes an innovative method for modifying biochar from rice straw, which allows the use of the material as a sorbent with a disinfecting effect. The method consists of processing biochar in a process activation plant (PAP) using a solution of silver nitrate, which is released in the form of a carbon nanomaterial with attached metallic silver ions on the surface of biochar particles. The biochar impregnated with a solution of silver nitrate was contacted with ferromagnetic particles under electromagnetic influence, followed by thermal treatment of the sample. The resulting silver-containing sorbent was subjected to a physicochemical analysis of its properties; photographs of electron microscopy were also obtained, and a bacteriological analysis of the effectiveness of the sorbent on natural water was carried out. The analysis was carried out on three indicators—total microbial count (TMC), total number of coliform bacteria (TCB), and thermotolerant coliform bacteria (TCB). According to the research results, the sorbent showed its disinfecting properties and confirmed its high efficiency (90.48–100%).

Utilization of Tryptophan-like Fluorescence as a Proxy for E. coli Contamination in a Mixed-Land-Use Karst Basin

Karst aquifers are susceptible to contamination by pathogenic microorganisms, such as those found in human and animal waste, because the surface and subsurface drainage are well integrated through dissolution features. Fecal contamination of water is commonly assessed by the concentration of thermotolerant coliform bacteria, especially E. coli. This method is time-consuming, taking ≥18 h between the start of incubation and subsequent enumeration, as well as the time required to collect and transport samples. We examined the utility of continuous monitoring of tryptophan-like fluorescence (TLF) as a real-time proxy for E. coli in a mixed-land-use karst basin in the Inner Bluegrass region of central Kentucky (USA). Two logging fluorometers were sequentially deployed at the outlet spring. During storm flow, TLF typically peaked after discharge, which suggests that TLF transport in the phreatic conduit is likely related to sediment transport. The ability of TLF and other parameters (48 h antecedent precipitation, turbidity, and air temperature) to predict E. coli concentrations was assessed using the Akaike information criterion (AIC) applied to linear regression models. Because both the models and baseline concentrations of TLF differed between fluorometers, TLF and instrument interaction were accounted for in the AIC. TLF was positively correlated with E. coli and, in conjunction with antecedent precipitation, was the best predictor of E. coli. However, a model that included air temperature and antecedent precipitation but not TLF predicted E. coli concentrations similarly well. Given the expense of the fluorometers and the performance of the alternate model, TLF may not be a cost-effective proxy for E. coli in this karst basin.

The study of microbial contamination of water and sanitary facilities in the Karaganda regional clinical hospital during different seasons

In modern conditions, the quality of water supply and the state of water management facilities play a key role in maintaining the health of people and animals, as well as the life quality of the population. In this regard, we set the goal of our research to assess the level of microbial contamination of water and sanitary facilities in the Regional Clinical Hospital of Karaganda district as the central and most powerful medical institution in the region in different seasons of the year. Based on the results of our study, the following conclusions can be drawn: during the research period, seasonal variability of indicators in the studied samples of tap water can be traced. The water of the central water supply is characterized by systematic excesses of both total coliform and thermotolerant coliform bacteria. In the city of Karaganda, there is a great stability in the quality of water supply, regardless of the seasons, despite the excess of standard indicators. It can talk about either the low quality of water treatment, or about quality problems in the water supply network at the sampling points (Regional Clinical Hospital of Karaganda). At the same time, it is worth noting the high percentage (almost 98 %) of positive samples in the spring. In winter, there is a lower percentage of positive samples and a significantly lower microbial quantity. The quality of drinking water decreases in the spring, we believe that the most likely reason for the deterioration in the quality of drinking water is the ingress of melt water and rainwater into the source. Violations of the technological conditions for the operation of water treatment facilities, secondary water pollution in worn-out water distribution networks could also be the cause of unsatisfactory results. In the Regional Clinical Hospital of Karaganda, a higher percentage of positive swabs is noted, which is associated with a higher load on the regional hospital, as well as a better supply of antimicrobial disinfectants, which leads to selective selection of more resistant strains.

Comparative Characteristics of Quality Parameters of Waters of the Oka River in Places of Water Intake of Utility and Drinking Water System in Ryazan

INTRODUCTION: Surface water sources play an important role in supply of large cities with water. Their waters are subject to anthropogenic pollution with different chemical compounds which may be significant risk factors for the health of the population. The article presents the results of comparative sanitary-hygienic characteristics of the water quality of the Oka river in places of water intake of utility and drinking water supply system of Ryazan. Being the only surface source of water supply, the Oka river provides 53% of the total water consumption of the Ryazan population, therefore a rational choice of the place of water intake can have a considerable impact on the effectiveness of water conditioning and purification and on the final quality of drinking water.
 AIM: To give a comparative sanitary-hygienic characteristic of the water quality of the Oka river in places of the water intake of the utility and drinking water supply system of Ryazan.
 MATERIALS AND METHODS: A comparative evaluation of the water quality of the Oka river, as a surface source of water supply, was carried out based on the average long-term values of control parameters (organoleptic, microbiological, chemical) and the proportion of samples that do not meet hygienic standards in the sections of three water intakes in Ryazan in 20122019. The average parameters were compared by the method of variance analysis; for paired comparisons, Scheffe and Tamhein criteria were used, taking into account the results of Levene test. The statistical parameters were calculated in SPSS Statistics 19 program.
 RESULTS: The chemical composition of the Oka river water was characterized by the greatest pollution with iron (2+) and aluminum. The water of Oksky and Borkovskoy water intakes was characterized by higher average concentrations of iron (2+) and ammonia, as well as greater contamination with generalized and thermotolerant coliform bacteria, compared with the water of Sokolovsky water intake.
 CONCLUSION: A lower initial quality of the water in Oksky and Borkovskoy water intakes may be due to their location in the 'blind' river course characterized by the processes of eutrophication and slowed down water exchange. High concentrations of iron (2+) may be associated with supply of stream water from the underground sources or with anthropogenic pollution.

Problems associated with vermicomposting of dog excrement in practice using Eisenia andrei.

One 25-kg dog produces about 500 g of excrement per day. Excrement is a potentially hazardous material, as it may contain pathogenic microorganisms. Our samples were tested for the presence of thermotolerant coliform bacteria, Enterococcus spp., Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp., which are indicators of faecal contamination, as well as for the presence of helminths and their eggs. During the experiment, it was observed whether these microorganisms could be eliminated by vermicomposting. There were two variants of vermicomposting piles: one test pile (with continuous feeding) and one control pile (with a single feeding). The vermicomposting process was run in outdoor conditions in park for 51 weeks using Eisenia andrei earthworms. The vermicomposting of dog excrement with waste from park maintenance (1:2) can produce a good quality fertiliser. During the process of vermicomposting, there was a gradual decrease in the content of pathogenic bacteria. At the end of the vermicomposting process, there were no eggs or adult helminths. The vermicompost was very rich in microorganisms and enzymatic activity. The pH value was slightly alkaline, and the C:N ratio corresponded to value of mature vermicompost.

Analysis of local drinking water for fecal contamination in Solu-Khumbu / Mt. Everest region, Nepal.

To evaluate the drinking water quality in the popular trekking area of Solu-Khumbu Mt. Everest region as a possible source for the high incidence of diarrhea. Drinking water samples (n=80) were collected from whatever primary source the locals/tourists used at altitudes 2,608 to 5,180m; and where possible, also from inside households. Samples were analyzed for fecal contamination using the DelAgua Dual Incubator at 37°C and 44°C to detect the total and thermotolerant coliform bacteria. The pH, temperature, turbidity, smell, and taste were also registered. No thermotolerant bacteria were found but a significant number of specimens contained many colony forming units (CFU) of total coliform bacteria. Household specimens were more often contaminated compared to the water from the primary source. Data indicate a significant secondary contamination when water was handled and stored in unhygienic containers. Health education programs on water hygiene, sanitation, and the safe handling and storage of water needs improvement. It is strongly recommended that drinking water is disinfected using filter systems, UV-light dispensers or halogens (e.g. chlorine), or a combination of two methods. Although cooking is a common disinfection method here, fuel is scarce. Water was generally safer when collected directly from the primary source in a clean container than from a lodge.

Assessment of the impacts of landscape patterns on water quality in Trondheim rivers and Fjord, Norway

Abstract Due to the impacts of hydrological and ecological processes on water quality, discharges from upstream catchments have induced significant pollution to the recipients. This study aims to investigate the possible pollution sources from catchments with different types of land use and landscape patterns and develop the relationships between water quality and the catchment hydro-geological and environmental variables. Data from 10 monitoring sites in Trondheim formulated the basis of the case study. Thermotolerant coliform bacteria (TCB) and total phosphorus (TP) were applied as main indicators to represent the water quality in the recipient rivers, streams and in Trondheim Fjord. Based on the GIS-oriented spatial analysis, 15 hydro-geographical and landscape parameters were selected as explanatory variables. Multiple linear regression (MLR) models were developed at catchment and river reach scales to study correlations between the explanatory variables and the response variables, TCB and TP, in rain and snow seasons. The study showed that the spatial landscape patterns resulted in differences in the concentrations of TCB and TP in the recipients. The agricultural land was shown to be the main pollution source, leading to a higher concentration of TP in streams. Buildings, roads, and other impervious areas have induced an increase in both TCB and TP. In contrast, the forest areas, lakes, river density and steep river slopes were shown to have capacity to filter incoming P-rich runoff, thus prevent pollutant conveyance and accumulation in recipients.

Assessment of the Microbiological Status of Yoghurt Sold in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

The assessment of the microbiological status of samples of yoghurt sold in Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria, was carried out to ascertain the microbiological fitness of the yoghurt samples for consumption. The yoghurt samples were collected from areas spanning three local governments in Owerri. Ten samples of commercial brands of yoghurt drinks was collected and analyzed bacteriologically by pour plate method using Nutrient Agar for heterotrophic bacteria, MacConkey Agar for total coliform and MacConkey Broth for fecal and thermo-tolerant coliform bacteria by Most Probable Number (MPN) technique and mycologically on Sabouraud dextrose Agar for fungi. Data from analysis were analyzed using ANOVA. Determination of the pH of the yoghurt samples was done and the results showed that the pH values ranged from 4.28 to 4.79. the results of the total heterotrophic bacteria count were from 5.07.1bc to 9.07.1a×105CFU/ml, while the total coliform bacteria ranged from 1.70.5ab to 3.61.2ab×104CFU/ml and the thermo-tolerant coliform bacteria ranged from 11 to 120(MPN) 100-1. The total fungal count ranged from 2.91.6b to 10.33.6a×104CFU/ml. The pH determination revealed that the isolates are acidophile because the pH of the yoghurt samples were in the acidic range. There was a significant difference at P >0.05 and the difference were separated using the least significant difference (LSD). Five bacterial isolates were identified included: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus spp., Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Serratia marcesecens. The fungal genera identified were Candida albicans, Aspergillus niger, Mucor spp. and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The isolation of both fungal and bacterial organisms known to be enteric pathogens is suggestive of faecal contamination and by implication a serious public health problem due to the health hazards they pose to consumers. The result of this study therefore indicated poor Microbiological qualities of commercial yoghurts sold in Owerri at the time of this research. Therefore, the attention of the appropriate government agencies is needed to ensure that adequate hygiene is maintained during preparation, processing, storage and distribution of high quality yoghurt products to avert public health challenges.

Sanitary and ecological assessment of fishery water-use objects in the Arctic

This work is devoted to the study of sanitary and hygienic monitoring of fishery water use objects in Murmansk region. The paper presents assessment of the ecological and sanitary conditions of fishery reservoirs in the Arctic region of the Kola and Tuloma rivers for the period 2016-2018 based on the use of microbiological, hydrochemical and parasitological indicators, as well as the integral index of surface water pollution. Hydrochemical studies consisted of determining the biochemical oxygen consumption, the mass content of NH4+, NO2-, NO3-, iron, and dissolved O2. The assessment of the river waters sanitary state was carried out by means of microbiological and parasitological methods. The microbiological parameters were used to determine the number of common and thermotolerant coliform bacteria, coliphages, and the presence of intestinal infections pathogens. The water of rivers does not meet the hygienic standards in terms of hydrochemical indicators in seventeen percent and in terms of microbiological indicators in five percent of cases. According to parasitological indicators, hygienic standards meet the requirements. In five points of water sampling, the water of the Tuloma and Kola rivers was evaluated as pure according to the integral hydrochemical index value and belongs to the second category of quality. In general, the high-water quality of Murmansk region rivers was noted. In conclusion, it should be emphasized that systematic monitoring of water supply sources is necessary to obtain an idea of the indicators’ variability and to assess the rivers pollution degree.

Physical and chemical environmental factors’ influence on the proteolytic potential of probiotic microorganisms’ individual representatives

This work is devoted to the study of sanitary and hygienic monitoring of fishery water use objects in Murmansk region. The paper presents assessment of the ecological and sanitary conditions of fishery reservoirs in the Arctic region of the Kola and Tuloma rivers for the period 2016-2018 based on the use of microbiological, hydrochemical and parasitological indicators, as well as the integral index of surface water pollution. Hydrochemical studies consisted of determining the biochemical oxygen consumption, the mass content of NH4+, NO2-, NO3-, iron, and dissolved O2. The assessment of the river waters sanitary state was carried out by means of microbiological and parasitological methods. The microbiological parameters were used to determine the number of common and thermotolerant coliform bacteria, coliphages, and the presence of intestinal infections pathogens. The water of rivers does not meet the hygienic standards in terms of hydrochemical indicators in seventeen percent and in terms of microbiological indicators in five percent of cases. According to parasitological indicators, hygienic standards meet the requirements. In five points of water sampling, the water of the Tuloma and Kola rivers was evaluated as pure according to the integral hydrochemical index value and belongs to the second category of quality. In general, the high-water quality of Murmansk region rivers was noted. In conclusion, it should be emphasized that systematic monitoring of water supply sources is necessary to obtain an idea of the indicators’ variability and to assess the rivers pollution degree.

Regional aspects of monitoring the quality of drinking water from centralized water supply

Despite the fact that substantial water resources are concentrated in the Irkutsk region, the research revealed the problems of providing the population with high-quality drinking water from centralized water supply systems. Monitoring the quality of drinking water from centralized water supply showed the presence of sources that do not meet sanitary and epidemiological requirements, which is associated in the overwhelming majority of cases with the absence of sanitary protection zones. The discrepancy with the adopted regulations of a part of sanitary-chemical and microbiological samples of drinking water was revealed. Deviations are mainly caused by an excess of the content of iron, aluminum, manganese, nitrates, magnesium, as well as general and thermotolerant coliform bacteria. The reasons for the unsatisfactory state of drinking water are detected and measures are recommended to ensure the appropriate quality for the sustainable development of the area under research.

Bacterial quality and safety of raw beef: A comparison between Finland and Nigeria

Beef can easily be contaminated with bacteria during the meat production chain. In this work, we studied the contamination levels of mesophilic aerobic bacteria (MAB) and thermotolerant coliform bacteria (TCB) on raw beef surfaces from small shops in Helsinki, Finland and meat markets in Benin City, Nigeria. We also investigated the prevalence of Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Listeria, and cephalosporin-resistant E. coli (CREC). In total, one hundred unpacked raw beef samples from Finland and Nigeria were collected in 2019. The median MAB and TCB counts were significantly (P < 0.001) higher on beef from Nigeria than from Finland. The median MAB and TCB counts in Nigeria were 7.5 and 4.0 log10 cfu/cm2, respectively, and 6.5 and 2.8 log10 cfu/cm2 in Finland, respectively. Most (94%) Nigerian samples were unacceptable according to limits set by the EU. Beef samples from meat markets in Benin City were significantly (P < 0.05) more frequently contaminated with Salmonella, STEC, and CREC than beef samples from small shops in Helsinki. Salmonella, STEC, and CREC were isolated from 30, 36, and 96% of Nigerian samples, respectively, and from <2, 12, and 2% of Finnish samples, respectively. Our study demonstrates a significant difference between the bacterial contaminations of raw beef in Nigeria and Finland, along with a possible misuse of cephalosporins in animal husbandry in Nigeria.

The use of probiotics for the correction of disturbances of metabolism in cows

Currently, there is a huge range of different feed additives on the market, which are widely used in animal husbandry, but they act simultaneously, i. e. by stopping their use the resulting effect is also lost. Metabolic disorders due to feeding errors begin imperceptibly without any precursors, and first of all this affects the biochemical parameters of the blood only later leads to alimentary diseases with deep often irreversible degenerative changes in organs and tissues. In practice, there are rarely disorders of any one type of metabolism more often there are combinations of various metabolic disorders, especially often this occurs in the absence of a complete balanced feeding. The purpose of the work was to evaluate the effectiveness of the use of a probiotic drug based on Bacillus subtilis in the watering of lactating cows for the correction of metabolic disorders. In order to assess the actual presence of probiotics in the water during the experiment its analysis has been carried out. It has shown that in the water that enters the distribution tank the total microbial number was 9×10[sup]5[/sup] CFU/ml, and in the drinker this indicator was at the level of 3,8×10[sup]5[/sup] CFU/ml. Common coliform bacteria and thermotolerant coliform bacteria have been not detected. Studies have shown that when using the drug based on Bacillus subtilis containing five strains of bacteria in an amount of 0,01 %, which is 6 ml/head/day in the watering of lactating cows during the increasing the milk yield period there was a tendency to correct metabolic disorders. There was the decrease in the content of ketone bodies by 11,9 %, the increase in glucose by 34 % and the decrease in urea by 7,1 mmol/l.

Performance of a Combined Treatment Approach on the Elimination of Microbes from Poultry Slaughterhouse Wastewater

The efficiency of microbial inactivation in water is highly dependent on the type of treatment technology used as well as the characteristics of the water to be treated. Wastewater from poultry slaughterhouses carries a significant number of microorganisms posing threats to humans and the environment in general. Therefore, the treatment of poultry slaughterhouse wastewater requires the use of appropriate purification systems with high removal efficiency for microbial agents. In this study, the performance of an integrated treatment plant with electrolysis, ultrafiltration, and ultraviolet radiation as the principal treatment units was investigated in terms of microbial inactivation from poultry slaughterhouse wastewater. In this case, total microbial number, total coliform bacteria, thermo-tolerant coliform bacteria, pathogenic flora, including salmonella coliphages, spores of sulfite-reducing clostridia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus were studied. Approximately 63.95% to 99.83% of the microbes were removed by the electrochemical treatment unit as well as a 99.86% to 100% removal efficiency was achieved after the combined treatment. However, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the only microbial agent detected in the final effluent after the combined treatment. The phenomenon suggests that an upgrade to the treatment plant may be required to achieve 100% removal assurance for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Assessment of Physicochemical and Bacteriological Quality of Well Water Samples in Ido Community, Nigeria

This study was carried out to investigate the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of well water samples in Ido community. Thirty water samples were collected from five different wells ( six samples from each well) and subjected to standard microbiological and physicochemical analysis. All physicochemical properties showed difference (p&lt;0.05) in all the wells analyzed except temperature and turbidity. Temperature ranged between 25.3±3.50C and 26±2.350C; pH, 6.3±0.7 and 6.9±0.3; electrical conductivity, 127.6±1.9 and 157.8±7.7μs/cm; total suspended solids, 25.2±8.9 and 53.2±1.8mg/l; turbidity, 0.15±0.7 and 1.20±1.4NTU; dissolved oxygen, 4.40±2.8 and 5.35±2.1 mg/l; Biological Oxygen Demand, 9.40±2.8 and15.4±2.8mg/l; Chemical Oxygen Demand, 177.2±1.6 and 260.3±1.6mg/l; chloride, 59.8±8.5 and 101.2±2.6mg/l and total hardness, 246.6±1.9 and 395.6±2.7mg/l. All values fell within WHO standards except Chemical Oxygen Demand (WHO Standard 40mg/l) and total hardness (WHO Standard 100mg/l). Results of microbial population did not show any difference (p&gt;0.05) across the wells. However, Total Heterotrophic Bacteria ranged from 2.15±0.91×104 to 5.3±0.86×104cfu/ml; total coliform, 3.00±0.77×104 to 6.18±0.73×104 cfu/ml; Total feacal coliform, 2.61±0.71×104 to 4.39±0.76×104 cfu/ml; Total vibrio count, 2.68±0.81× 103 to 4.4±0.86×103 cfu/ml; Total salmonella shigella count. 2.02±0.84×103 to 4.8±0.95×103 cfu/ml. Total coliform bacteria ranged from 220 to &gt; 1600 coliform MPN index /100ml-1, while thermo tolerant coliform bacteria ranged from 220 to 1600 coliform MPN index /100ml-1. A total of forty bacterial isolates belonging to ten genera were identified. They include species of Bacillus 22 (26.4%), Staphylococcus 14(16.8%), Vibrio 13(15.7%), Serratia 6(7.3%), Enterobacter 6(7.3%), Chromobacterium 4(4.8%), Salmonella 4 (4.9%), Shigella 4(4.8%) and E. coli 4(4.8%). This result highlights the fact that well water in Ido community are not safe microbiologically for drinking without additional treatment such as boiling or disinfection and this could lead to outbreak of water borne diseases. Good and proper environmental and personal hygiene is advocate especially by the users of those wells to prevent their contamination with bacterial pathogens.