Wide diversity of fungal species found in wellwater for human consumption: an analytical cross-sectional study
São Paulo med. j
;
137(6): 512-516, Nov.-Dec. 2019. tab
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: biblio-1094521
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT BACKGROUND:
Fungi are ubiquitous in the environment. They are able to grow in water and many of them may be opportunistic pathogens.OBJECTIVE:
The aims were to identify fungi in registered wells (RWs) and nonregistered wells (NRWs) that tap into groundwater; and to correlate the results from physicochemical assays on this water (free residual chlorine and pH) with the presence of fungi. DATA ANDSETTING:
Analytical cross-sectional quantitative study on groundwater wells in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil.METHODS:
52 samples of 500 ml of water were collected from RWs and 107 from NRWs. These were sent to a microbiology laboratory to identify any fungi that were present. In addition, free residual chlorine and pH were measured immediately after sample collection. Several statistical analysis tests were used.RESULTS:
Fungal contamination was present in 78.8% of the samples from RWs and 81.3% from NRWs. Filamentous fungi were more prevalent than yeast in both types of wells. There was no significant difference in presence of fungi according to whether chloride and pH were within recommended levels in RWs; or according to whether pH was within recommended levels in NRWs. Furthermore, there was no statistical difference in the levels of fungal contamination between RWs and NRWs.CONCLUSION:
Both RWs and NRWs are potential reservoirs for many types of fungi. Many of these may become opportunistic pathogens if they infect immunosuppressed individuals. Furthermore, this study confirms that fungi are able to grow even when chlorine and pH parameters are within the standards recommended.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Water Microbiology
/
Drinking Water
/
Water Wells
/
Fungi
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prevalence study
/
Risk factors
Limits:
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
South America
/
Brazil
Language:
English
Journal:
São Paulo med. j
Journal subject:
Cirurgia Geral
/
Cincia
/
Ginecologia
/
Medicine
/
Medicina Interna
/
Obstetr¡cia
/
Pediatria
/
Sa£de Mental
/
Sa£de P£blica
Year:
2019
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Brazil
Institution/Affiliation country:
Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto/BR
/
Regional Laboratory of São José do Rio Preto/BR
/
School of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto/BR
/
Universidade Estadual Paulista/BR
/
Universidade Federal do Mato Grosso do Sul/BR
/
Universidade de São Paulo/BR
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS