Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in private drinking water wells: influences of protozoan grazing and elevated copper concentrations.

摘要: The survival characteristics of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in private drinking water wells were investigated to assess the potential for human exposure. A non-toxigenic, chromosomally lux-marked strain E. was inoculated into well from four different sites North East Scotland. These waters differed significantly their heavy metal contents as nutrient and bacterial grazer concentrations. Grazing other biological factors studied using filtered (3 0.2 μm) autoclaved water. primarily decreased by elevated copper This hypothesis supported acute toxicity assay data. In addition, significant protozoan predation effects observed untreated when compared with rates combination these two particular determines time pathogen a well. It therefore appears that higher quality assessed European Union Drinking Water Directive standards will also allow much longer periods.