Recovery of coliform bacteria from rural groundwater supplies using reduced oxygen concentrations during incubation

1997 ◽  
Vol 43 (6) ◽  
pp. 583-588 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. J. Shirey ◽  
G. K. Bissonnette

The effect of decreased oxygen concentration during incubation of M-Endo medium on detection of coliforms from rural groundwater supplies was examined. Incubation oxygen concentrations of 0 (anaerobic GasPak), 4, 8, and 21% (atmospheric) were examined. Our findings point to several advantages of using anaerobic incubation for the isolation of coliforms: (i) higher verification rates with concomitant decreases in occurrence of false-positive coliforms; (ii) overall reduction in growth of nonsheen colonies; and (iii) reduction in colony size for nonsheen organisms, thereby minimizing crowding effects and facilitating enumeration of coliform colonies. However, these advantages were not sufficient to permit increased recovery of total coliforms as compared with standard aerobic incubation. In addition, the increased frequency of detecting false-negative coliforms during anaerobic incubation is a disadvantage to this method. While detection of total coliforms was reduced under conditions of anaerobiosis, the detection of fecal coliforms and (or) E. coli was not impeded.Key words: coliforms, anaerobiosis, groundwater, sheen formation.

2009 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
S J Bach ◽  
R P Johnson ◽  
K. Stanford ◽  
T A McAllister

Bacteriophage biocontrol has potential as a means of mitigating the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ruminants. The efficacy of oral administration of bacteriophages for reducing fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 by sheep was evaluated using 20 Canadian Arcott rams (50.0 ± 3.0) housed in four rooms (n = 5) in a contained facility. The rams had ad libitum access to drinking water and a pelleted barley-based total mixed ration, delivered once daily. Experimental treatments consisted of administration of E. coli O157:H7 (O157), E. coli O157:H7+bacteriophages (O157+phage), bacteriophages (phage), and control (CON). Oral inoculation of the rams with 109 CFU of a mixture of four nalidixic acid-resistant strains of E. coli O157:H7 was performed on day 0. A mixture of 1010 PFU of bacteriophages P5, P8 and P11 was administered on days -2, -1, 0, 6 and 7. Fecal samples collected on 14 occasions over 21 d were analyzed for E. coli O157:H7, total E. coli, total coliforms and bacteriophages. Sheep in treatment O157+phage shed fewer (P < 0.05) E. coli O157:H7 than did sheep in treatment O157. Populations of total coliforms and total E. coli were similar (P < 0.05) among treatments, implying that bacteriophage lysis of non-target E. coli and coliform bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract did not occur. Bacteriophage numbers declined rapidly over 21 d, which likely reduced the chance of collision between bacteria and bacteriophage. Oral administration of bacteriophages reduced shedding of E. coli O157:H7 by sheep, but a delivery system that would protect bacteriophages during passage through the intestine may increase the effectiveness of this strategy as well as allow phage to be administered in the feed.Key words: Escherichia coli O157:H7, bacteriophage, sheep, environment, coliforms


2007 ◽  
Vol 53 (6) ◽  
pp. 688-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Locas ◽  
Christine Barthe ◽  
Benoit Barbeau ◽  
Annie Carrière ◽  
Pierre Payment

A 1 year study was undertaken on groundwater that was a source of drinking water in the province of Quebec, Canada. Twelve municipal wells (raw water) were sampled monthly during a 1 year period, for a total of 160 samples. Using historic data, the 12 sites were categorized into 3 groups: group A (no known contamination), group B (sporadically contaminated by total coliforms), and group C (historic and continuous contamination by total coliforms and (or) fecal coliforms). Bacterial indicators (total coliform, Escherichia coli , enteroccoci), viral indicators (somatic and male-specific coliphages), total culturable human enteric viruses, and noroviruses were analyzed at every sampling site. Total coliforms were the best indicator of microbial degradation, and coliform bacteria were always present at the same time as human enteric viruses. Two samples contained human enteric viruses but no fecal pollution indicators (E. coli, enterococci, or coliphages), suggesting the limited value of these microorganisms in predicting the presence of human enteric viruses in groundwater. Our results underline the value of historic data in assessing the vulnerability of a well on the basis of raw water quality and in detecting degradation of the source. This project allowed us to characterize the microbiologic and virologic quality of groundwater used as municipal drinking water sources in Quebec.


2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (12) ◽  
pp. 3771-3778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Winfried B. Ksoll ◽  
Satoshi Ishii ◽  
Michael J. Sadowsky ◽  
Randall E. Hicks

ABSTRACT Epilithic periphyton communities were sampled at three sites on the Minnesota shoreline of Lake Superior from June 2004 to August 2005 to determine if fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli were present throughout the ice-free season. Fecal coliform densities increased up to 4 orders of magnitude in early summer, reached peaks of up to 1.4 � 105 CFU cm−2 by late July, and decreased during autumn. Horizontal, fluorophore-enhanced repetitive-PCR DNA fingerprint analyses indicated that the source for 2% to 44% of the E. coli bacteria isolated from these periphyton communities could be identified when compared with a library of E. coli fingerprints from animal hosts and sewage. Waterfowl were the major source (68 to 99%) of periphyton E. coli strains that could be identified. Several periphyton E. coli isolates were genotypically identical (≥92% similarity), repeatedly isolated over time, and unidentified when compared to the source library, suggesting that these strains were naturalized members of periphyton communities. If the unidentified E. coli strains from periphyton were added to the known source library, then 57% to 81% of E. coli strains from overlying waters could be identified, with waterfowl (15 to 67%), periphyton (6 to 28%), and sewage effluent (8 to 28%) being the major potential sources. Inoculated E. coli rapidly colonized natural periphyton in laboratory microcosms and persisted for several weeks, and some cells were released to the overlying water. Our results indicate that E. coli from periphyton released into waterways confounds the use of this bacterium as a reliable indicator of recent fecal pollution.


1996 ◽  
Vol 33 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 261-269 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koji Kashimada ◽  
Naoyuki Kamiko ◽  
Kazuo Yamamoto ◽  
Shinichiro Ohgaki

Photoreactivation of microorganisms following UV disinfection is one of the research topics of interest in assessing the performance of UV disinfection, because there is little consensus on how the visible light intensity relates to the photoreactivation rate and the maximum survival in wastewater treatment processes. Apparent photoreactivation by a fluorescent lamp was observed in case of indicator bacteria (heterotrophic bacteria, coliform bacteria, fecal coliforms) in raw sewage, but not E. coli B and E. coli K12 A/λ(F+). Inactivation of fecal coliform was observed simultaneously during photoreactivation process by sunlight. Dose rate at 360 nm wave length as visible light intensity showed that it was a useful indicator for assessing the photoreactivation rate and the maximum survival when photoreactivation took place by both fluorescent lamp and sunlight. The model for photoreactivation was developed. The photoreactivation rate increased with increasing visible light intensity at 360 nm. However, the maximum survival value may not be affected by visible light intensity.


1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip T Feldsine ◽  
Maria T Falbo-Nelson ◽  
David L Hustead

Abstract The ColiComplete® substrate-supporting disc (SSD) method for simultaneous confirmed total coliform count and Escherichia coli determination in all foods was compared with the AOAC most probable number (MPN) methods 966.23 and 966.24. In this comparative study, 20 water and food types were analyzed; 7 of these foods were naturally contaminated with coliform bacteria, 6 food types were naturally contaminated with E. coli, and the remaining foods were inoculated with coliform bacteria and/or E. coli. Data were analyzed separately for total coliform bacteria and for E. coli. Mean log MPN counts were determined by the SSD method and the appropriate AOAC MPN procedure. Results were then analyzed for mean log MPN differences and variance, according to methods described by AOAC INTERNATIONAL Results for both total conforms and E. coli indicate that the SSD method is equivalent to or better than AOAC MPN methods 966.23 and 966.24.


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ananda Tiwari ◽  
Seppo I. Niemelä ◽  
Asko Vepsäläinen ◽  
Jarkko Rapala ◽  
Seija Kalso ◽  
...  

The purpose of this equivalence study was to compare an alternative method, Colilert-18 Quanti-Tray (ISO 9308-2) with the European bathing water directive (2006/7/EC) reference method, the miniaturised most probable number (MMPN) method (ISO 9308-3), for the analysis of Escherichia coli. Six laboratories analysed a total of 263 bathing water samples in Finland. The comparison was carried out according to ISO 17994:2004. The recovery of E. coli using the Colilert-18 method was 7.0% and 8.6% lower than that of the MMPN method after 48 hours and 72 hours of incubation, respectively. The confirmation rate of presumptive E. coli-positive wells in the Colilert-18 and MMPN methods was high (97.8% and 98.0%, respectively). However, the testing of presumptive E. coli-negative but coliform bacteria-positive (yellow but not fluorescent) Colilert-18 wells revealed 7.3% false negative results. There were more false negatives in the naturally contaminated waters than in the samples spiked with waste water. The difference between the recovery of Colilert-18 and the MMPN method was considered not significant, and subsequently the methods are considered as equivalent for bathing water quality monitoring in Finland. Future bathing water method equivalence verification studies may use the data reported herein. The laboratories should make sure that any wells showing even minor fluorescence will be determined as positive for E. coli.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Ngaire Nicholson ◽  
Klaus Neumann ◽  
Carolyn Dowling ◽  
Subodh Sharma

During the 2016 pre-monsoon dry season, we undertook a systematic study of water quality, specifically fecal contamination of drinking water, in the Khumbu Valley, Sagarmatha National Park (SNP, Mt. Everest region) and SNP buffer zone, Nepal. Our goal was to quantify physical parameters (temperature, pH, conductivity and total dissolved solids), and the presence of fecal coliforms (E. coli and total coliforms) in drinking water and drinking water sources (predominately groundwater-fed springs). This data set will function as a baseline for access to potable water and further monitoring. Sample sites were selected based on primary use as a drinking water and/or drinking water source for each community. In general, there is little correlation between and physical parameters however, there are very weak correlations between total coliform data and increasing temperature, and decreasing elevation and pH. There does, however, appear to be a correlation between population (including tourist numbers) and both E. coli and total coliforms. Our study clearly indicates that the presence of bacterial indicators of fecal pollution during the dry season. Samples from the more populated, lower altitude areas had higher levels of E. coli and coliform bacteria. Importantly, drinking water that was stored in tanks or transported long distances had a much higher incidence of E. coli and total coliforms suggesting that a change in water handling practices might have an important impact on drinking water quality and population health. 


1993 ◽  
Vol 39 (10) ◽  
pp. 973-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allen N. Hagler ◽  
Carlos A. Rosa ◽  
Paula B. Morais ◽  
Leda C. Mendonça-Hagler ◽  
Georgia M. O. Franco ◽  
...  

Yeasts and coliform bacteria were isolated from water that accumulated in the central cups and adjacent leaf axilae of two bromeliads, Neoregelia cruenta of a coastal sand dune and Quesnelia quesneliana of a mangrove ecosystem near the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The mean total coliform counts were above 10 000 per 100 mL for waters of both plants, but the mean fecal coliform counts were only 74 per 100 mL for Q. quesneliana and mostly undetected in water from N. cruenta. Of 90 fecal coliform isolates, 51 were typical of Escherichia coli in colony morphology and indol, methyl red, Volges–Proskauer, and citrate (IMViC) tests. Seven representatives of the typical E. coli cultures were identified as this species, but the identifications of nine other coliform bacteria were mostly dubious. The yeast community of N. cruenta was typical of plant surfaces with basidiomycetous yeasts anamorphs, and the black yeast Aureobasidium pullulans was prevalent. Quesnelia quesneliana had a substantial proportion of ascomycetous yeasts and their anamorphs, including a probable new biotype of Saccharomyces unisporus. Our results suggested that the microbial communities in bromeliad waters are typically autochtonous and not contaminants.Key words: yeasts, fecal coliforms, bromeliad waters, mangrove, Restinga.


1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 261-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon A. McFeters ◽  
Barry H. Pyle ◽  
Shaun J. Gillis ◽  
Carole J. Acomb ◽  
David Ferrazza

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™ (Millipore), ColiLert™ (Environetics) and ColiQuick™ (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.


1984 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 812-823
Author(s):  
Phyllis Entis ◽  
◽  
B Bennett ◽  
M H Brodsky ◽  
D M Burgener ◽  
...  

Abstract A collaborative study was conducted in 18 laboratories to assess the performance of the hydrophobic grid membrane filter method against that of the AOAC official first action method 46.013-46.016 for enumerating total and fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli. The study was carried out on frozen breaded fish, raw comminuted poultry, unroasted walnut pieces, ground black pepper, and cheddar cheese. The hydrophobic grid membrane filter method recovered significantly larger numbers of target bacteria in 7 of the food/analysis combinations: fecal coliforms in fish; E. coli in poultry; fecal coliforms and E. coli in walnuts; and total coliforms, fecal coliforms and E. coli in black pepper. Random error (Sr2) associated with the hydrophobic grid membrane filter method was significantly lower than that of the reference method in over 30% of the paired sample series. The hydrophobic grid membrane filter method for total coliform, fecal coliform, and E. coli enumeration in foods has been adopted official first action.


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