Abstract
The legal biological survey of swimming pool waters is based on both the level of bacteriological contamination and the amount of material of fecal origin. The great number of soil amoebas and the occasional epidemiological risk involved led us to consider using these organisms as possible biological markers to estimate the quality of pool water and the extent of disinfection. During a 1-year survey of 54 public swimming pools, 765 superficial pool and tap water samples were collected. One portion (50 ml) drawn from 1-liter samples was filtered and cultured for amoebas. In specimens considered contaminated we detected at least 20 amoebas per liter, whereas uncontaminated samples contained fewer than 20 amoebas per liter. By keeping the threshold value voluntarily low, we were able to compare tap water with pool water and to monitor the quality of various disinfection procedures (i.e., chlorine, bromine, and Cu-Ag). The data suggest that the filters were not always protective against a high concentration of amoebas. Furthermore, these disinfection procedures were not equally efficient according to estimates based on biological criteria. In addition, the quality of swimming pool water also depends on the quality of its source tap water. Thus, the numeration of soil amoebas can be used as an additional biological marker to estimate the quality of swimming pool water.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- Cerva L., Novăk K. Amoebic meningoencephalitis: 16 fatalities. Science. 1968 Apr 5;160(3823):92–92. doi: 10.1126/science.160.3823.92. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- De Jonckheere J., van de Voorde H. Differences in destruction of cysts of pathogenic and nonpathogenic Naegleria and Acanthamoeba by chlorine. Appl Environ Microbiol. 1976 Feb;31(2):294–297. doi: 10.1128/aem.31.2.294-297.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Derr-Harf C., Molet B., Schreiber J., Kremer M. Epidémiologie des amibes libres dans les eaux de Strasbourg. Ann Parasitol Hum Comp. 1978 Sep-Oct;53(5):467–477. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Derreumaux A. L., Jadin J. B., Willaert E., Moret R. Action du chlore sur les amibes de l'eau. Ann Soc Belg Med Trop. 1974;54(4-5):415–428. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Fowler M., Carter R. F. Acute pyogenic meningitis probably due to Acanthamoeba sp.: a preliminary report. Br Med J. 1965 Sep 25;2(5464):740–742. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.5464.734-a. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Perrine D., Barbier D., Georges P. Activité comparée in vitro du chlore et du brome sur les kystes d'amibes libres. C R Seances Soc Biol Fil. 1980;174(3):297–303. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Willaert E. Primary amoebic meningo-encephalitis. A selected bibliography and tabular survey of cases. Ann Soc Belg Med Trop. 1974;54(4-5):429–440. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]