Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

Study of bacteriophages as indicators of the microbiological quality of water

7^th World Congress on Microbiology

November 28-29, 2016 Valencia, Spain

Eun-Young Jung, Hong-Ki Park, Dong-Jin Cha, Hyo-Sang Lim and Pyung-Jong Yoo

Busan Water Quality Institute, Republic of Korea

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Bacteriol Parasitol

Abstract:

The current methods to detect enteric viruses in the water source system are very complicated and not efficient economically. In the U.S. EPA, the detection of bacteriophage is a good alternative among the trace methods of using microorganisms to detect feces pollution. Amongst the diverse bacteriophages, DNA somatic coliphage and RNA male-specific phage that infect E. coli and other coliforms possess similar size and structural characteristics to enteric viruses. Therefore, bacteriophages are attractive candidates as indicators of enteric viruses in the surface waters and serve as simple water quality assessment tools to diagnose human health risks. In this study, we evaluated the potential of bacteriophages as an indicator of the microbiological quality of water. Water samples were collected at two representative study sites: Mulgum of Nakdong River and the Hoidong reservoir which supplies water to Busan City. DNA somatic phages were detected in 75% samples of Mulgum and 70% samples of Hoidong, while RNA male specific phages ranged from 22-0 PFU/10 L in Mulgum and 25 PFU/10 L in Hoidong. Enteroviruses were detected in 6 cases of Mulgum region and in 5 cases in Hoidong. Noroviruses were not detected in any of the samples. Both somatic phages and male specific phage were detected in the Enterovirus positive samples. In conclusion, detection of an index organism like bacteriophage before pathogenic bacteria analysis could be a major tool to predict the presence of enteric viruses.

Biography :

Email: meetjung@korea.kr