Shortcomings of the Multiple Tube Test for Bacteria in Drinking Water
Keywords:
MTT, Eijkman test, drinking water, coliforms, Multiple tube test
Abstract
Background: The multiple tube test is used to Assess total and faecal coliforms in drinking water. It depends on colour change and gas formation but often identifies the bacteria wrongly. Many a times bacteria are missed or important bacteria are not identified by this test. Methods: Here we propose another new method combining subculture and biochemical tests to complement this test so that identification is better. Result: The new method was found to be very good and can supplement Eijkman test and Multiple tube test for better identification of coliforms and other bacteria from drinking water. Conclusion: The new tests are simple and can be safely used in place of cumbersome conventional tests and other molecular tests for identification of bacteria in water.References
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2. Hsieh JJ. A Comparison of the Multiple-Tube Fermentation Method and the Colitag Method for the Detection of Waterborne Coliform Bacteria. https://nature.berkeley.edu/classes/es196/projects/2001final/Hsieh.pdf. Last accessed 24th June 2018.
3. Batty-Smith CG. The Eijkman test for faecal coli in the bacteriological examination of water supplies'. 1-44. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2199795/pdf/jhyg00198-0064.pdf. Last accessed 24th June 2018.
4. Zanetti F, de Luca G, Leoni E, Sachetti R. Occurrence of non-fermenting gram negative bacteria in drinking water dispensed from point-of-use microfiltration devices. Ann Agric Environ Med. 2014;21: 29-34
5. Razzolini MTP, Guinther WMR, Martone-Rocha S, de Luca HD, Cardoso MRA. Aeromonas presence in drinking water from collective reservoirs and wells in periurban area in brazil. Brazilian J Microbiol 2010;41: 694-699.
6. Mena KD, Gerba CP. Risk assessment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in water. Rev Environ Contam Toxicol. 2009;201:71-115.
7. Chapter 2 - water quality monitoring, standards and treatment. http://www.fao.org/docrep/x5624e/x5624e05.htm#2.2.3 bacteriological tests. Last accessed 6th August 2018.
Published
2018-09-20
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Original Article
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