title: Evaluation of four membrane filter media in anaerobic-MF recovery of faecal coliforms from freshwater in Nigeria.
abstract: MacConkey (MC), membrane lauryl sulphate (MIS), membrane faecal coliform amended with rosolic acid (MFC + R) and without the acid (MFC - R) were evaluated in the anaerobic membrane filtration (anaerobic-MF) recovery of faecal coliform populations (FCs), genera and faecal coliform positive (FC-positive) strains isolated from various sources of freshwater, i.e., rivers, rural wells, unchlorinated distributive supplies and hand pumps. Mean counts (x 10(2)/100 ml) of presumptive (typical) FCs varied from 13.69 (MC) to 40.81 (MLS) in river samples, and from 2.0 (MC) to 4.19 (MFC + R) in wells. The proportion of FC-positive, typical FCs ranged from 48.66 (MIS) to 66-67% (MC) in rivers, and from 50 (MC) to 90.22% (MFC + R) in wells. More than 30% of the typical FCs from all sources on each medium was FC-negative. These usually formed small (ca 1.0 mm diam.) colonies on the test agar, and were prevalent in wells. Typical FCs and FC-positive strains were not recovered from piped supplies and hand pumps. In spite of anaerobic incubation, non-faecal coliforms (NFCs) were often higher than the FCs; the FC:NFC ratios for rivers ranged from 1.65 (MC) to 7.65 (MLS) and (MFC + R) but were < 1.0 for wells on each medium. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Enterobacter species were recovered on all media: approximately 35-64% of the strains confirmed as FCs were E. coli, 20-42% were Kl. pneumoniae. The FC counts on the media were variable, but the overall performance in recovering 'true' FCs was similar; < 70% of strains per medium were FC-positive. None could count E. coli exclusively.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Ogan
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D003470:Culture Media; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005374:Filtration; D005618:Fresh Water; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D009549:Nigeria; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D008567:Membranes, Artificial