Sedimentation-resuspension of Enterococcus attached to particles in recreational waters using membrane filter technique and qPCR

DOLORES GUTIÉRREZ CACCIABUE; EUGENIA ACEVEDO; OSCAR GAMBONI; VERÓNICA B. RAJAL

Florianópolis

Simposio; 17th International Symposium on Health Related Water Microbiology - Watermicro 2013; 2013

Water pollution is a major problem worldwide that needs to be solved due to the large number of waterborne diseases that can be transmitted when people (children are a vulnerable group) come in contact with it. There are a variety of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses and protozoa) present in water. If they are pathogens, the problem become worrisome due to the various diseases that they can cause by the faecal-oral route (ingestion) or by skin contact due to recreational activities. Despite the improvement on methodologies for microbial detection and on water treatment, microorganisms still survive in aquatic environments. One of the variables related to the persistence of microorganisms in water is the presence of solid particles. Microorganisms can exist and eventually be transported in water in two forms: freely or attached to small particles like clay and silt (