Utility of EC 3MTM petrifilmsTM and sanitary surveys for source water assessment in south-western Uganda

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorPearson, A.L.
dc.contributor.authorRoberts, M.C.
dc.contributor.authorSoge, O.O.
dc.contributor.authorIvanova, I.
dc.contributor.authorMayer, J.D.
dc.contributor.authorMeschke, J.S.
dc.date.accessioned2010-03-21T21:00:24Z
dc.date.available2010-03-21T21:00:24Z
dc.date.issued2008en
dc.description.abstractThe majority of people in developing nations rely on untreated or minimally treated surface and shallow groundwater sources which are prone to faecal contamination. This study evaluated the utility of EC 3M Petrifilm and sanitary inspection forms (SIFs) as tools to assess 47 water sources and identify hazards of contamination in two rural Ugandan villages (90% were surface sources). Water samples were cultured on EC 3MTM PetrifilmTM, which are intended to enumerate E. coli and total coliforms following 24 h incubation at 37 ÂșC. Isolated bacteria were cultured on MacConkey agar and identified using standard biochemical tests, while selected isolates were verified by sequencing 16S rRNA genes. From 105 Petrifilms, 110 presumptive E. coli were isolated and identified to genus level. However, only 33 presumptive E. coli isolates from 14 water sources (representing 27 distinct strains as determined by PFGE) were confirmed E. coli. The other presumptive E. coli isolates were identified as Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Proteus, Salmonella, and Yersinia species. SIFs used an adapted survey designed for urban water sources of Uganda. The form yielded a SIF score based on binary data and characterized potential sources of contamination. SIF scores alone offered little information to distinguish between contamination levels of surface water sources, but the information collected in the surveys could be used to identify ways to improve sources. The results of this study suggest that the use of sanitary surveys may assist in identifying potential pollution sources that may be targeted to protect water sources. Bacterial monitoring using EC 3MTM PetrifilmsTM may be effective for the screening of relative levels of contamination of source waters, including surface sources.en
dc.identifier.citationPearson, A.L., Roberts, M.C., Soge, O.O., Ivanova, I., Mayer, J.D., Meschke, J.S. (2008) Utility of EC 3MTM petrifilmsTM and sanitary surveys for source water assessment in south-western Uganda. Water SA, 34(2), pp. 279-283.en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10092/3612
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversity of Canterbury. Geographyen
dc.relation.urihttp://www.wrc.org.za/en
dc.rights.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10092/17651en
dc.subjectPublic Healthen
dc.subjectsub-Saharan Africaen
dc.subjectMicrobiologyen
dc.subjectdrinking wateren
dc.subjectdeveloping countriesen
dc.subjectsanitary surveyen
dc.subjectEC 3MTM PetrifilmTMen
dc.subject.marsdenFields of Research::320000 Medical and Health Sciences::320400 Medical Microbiology::320403 Medical infection agents (incl. prions)en
dc.titleUtility of EC 3MTM petrifilmsTM and sanitary surveys for source water assessment in south-western Ugandaen
dc.typeJournal Article
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Thumbnail Image
Name:
12623226_Final_WaterSA_052008.pdf
Size:
553.13 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download
Collections
Science: Journal Articles