Nontuberculous Mycobacteria, Fungi, and Opportunistic Pathogens in Unchlorinated Drinking Water in the Netherlands

Author:

van der Wielen Paul W. J. J.1,van der Kooij Dick1

Affiliation:

1. KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Nieuwegein, the Netherlands

Abstract

ABSTRACT The multiplication of opportunistic pathogens in drinking water supplies might pose a threat to public health. In this study, distributed unchlorinated drinking water from eight treatment plants in the Netherlands was sampled and analyzed for fungi, nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), and several opportunistic pathogens by using selective quantitative PCR methods. Fungi and NTM were detected in all drinking water samples, whereas Legionella pneumophila , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Stenotrophomonas maltophilia , and Aspergillus fumigatus were sporadically observed. Mycobacterium avium complex and Acanthamoeba spp. were not detected. Season had no influence on the occurrence of these organisms, except for NTM and S. maltophilia , which were present in higher numbers in the summer. Opportunistic pathogens were more often observed in premise plumbing water samples than in samples from the distribution system. The lowest number of these organisms was observed in the finished water at the plant. Thus, fungi, NTM, and some of the studied opportunistic pathogens can multiply in the distribution and premise plumbing systems. Assimilable organic carbon (AOC) and/or total organic carbon (TOC) had no clear effects on fungal and NTM numbers or on P. aeruginosa - and S. maltophilia -positive samples. However, L. pneumophila was detected more often in water with AOC concentrations above 10 μg C liter −1 than in water with AOC levels below 5 μg C liter −1 . Finally, samples that contained L. pneumophila , P. aeruginosa , or S. maltophilia were more frequently positive for a second opportunistic pathogen, which shows that certain drinking water types and/or sampling locations promote the growth of multiple opportunistic pathogens.

Publisher

American Society for Microbiology

Subject

Ecology,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,Food Science,Biotechnology

Reference65 articles.

1. BartramJ CotruvoC ExnerM FrickerC GlasmacherA. 2003. Heterotrophic plate counts and drinking-water safety. IWA Publishing/World Health Organization, London, United Kingdom.

2. Persistence of Legionella in hospital water supplies and nosocomial Legionnaires' disease;Garcia-Nuńez M;FEMS Immunol. Med. Microbiol.,2008

3. Community-acquired Legionnaires' disease caused by Legionella pneumophila serogroup 10 linked to the private home;Luck PC;J. Med. Microbiol.,2008

4. Risk assessment of opportunistic bacterial pathogens in drinking water;Rusin PA;Rev. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.,1997

5. Biofilm formation and multiplication of Legionella in a model warm water system with pipes of copper, stainless steel and cross-linked polyethylene;van der Kooij D;Water Res.,2005

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3