Occurrence of coliforms and free-living amoebae in groundwater
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Abstract
Groundwater is one of the main supply sources of drinking water in Mexico, they support a poor biological community, because their low concentration of nutrients. However in the last years, the human activities and the population growth have caused the contamination of aquifers. In this way, the water can have pathogenic microorganisms that can cause sicknesses; this is the case of free-living amoebae (FLA). The objective of the research was to determine the occurrence of coliform bacteria and free-living amoebae in the aquifer of Zacatepec, Morelos. Monthly samplings of thirteen wells were carried out during one year. The following physicochemical parameters were measure in situ: pH, dissolved oxygen (DO) and temperature. Total and fecal coliforms were determined by the membrane filter technique. Free-living amoebae were cultured on non-nutritive agar medium (NNE), and the identification was carried out taking in account their morphological features. All the wells were polluted with total coliforms, one with 247 ufc 100ml-1, three with 12, 14 and 16, and the others with 1 to 5. Fecal coliforms were absent in four wells, one had 247 ufc 100ml-1, two had 10 and 16 and the others had 1 to 3. The well most polluted was the number 3, and the months with more bacteria were April and July. Free-living amoebae were isolated in all the wells, the highest isolation number was found in well number 2, while the lowest were found in wells 4, 5, and 10. December and January were the months with the highest number of amoebae, and April with the lowest. Twenty two species belonging to 16 genera were isolated; the most frequent was Hartmannella with 38.1%, this amoeba has been associated to ocular and brain infections in humans Of the pathogenic amoebae, was isolated Acanthamoeba polyphaga, but with low frequency (6.6%). Physicochemical parameters did not show seasonal variation, pH was close to neutrality in a range of 6.4 to 7.3, temperature was in a range of 25.1 to 28° C, and dissolved oxygen of 2.9 to 4.8 mg l-1.
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