Occurrence of bacterial indicators and bacteriophages infecting enteric bacteria in groundwater in different geographical areas

AIMS: The aim of this research was to determine the suitability of coliphages (bacteriophages) for assessing the microbial quality of groundwater. METHODS AND RESULTS: The number of several bacterial indicators (faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, enterococci and spores of sulfite-reducing clostridia) and bacteriophages (somatic coliphages, F-specific RNA bacteriophages and bacteriophages infecting Bacteroides fragilis) were determined in groundwater of aquifers in various geographical areas. Results show that the relative abundance, determined as percentages of positive detections, of the bacterial indicators and bacteriophages varies depending on the aquifer. CONCLUSIONS: A single bacterial indicator may not be enough to assess microbiological quality in certain aquifers. One bacterial indicator and a bacteriophage parameter provide more information than two bacterial indicators. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Coliphages (CPH) provide different information from that provided by bacterial indicators on the microbial quality of groundwater in different geographical areas. Easy, fast and inexpensive methods for the detection of CPH are feasible in both industrialized and developing countries.