title: An enzymatic procedure for the confirmation of total coliforms and Escherichia coli enumeration from water.
abstract: A new procedure for the confirmation of total coliforms and Escherichia coli from presumptive most probable number (MPN) test is described. The procedure utilizes an enzymatic test apparatus composed of a couple of devices, one charged with ONPG-medium for the detection of beta-galactosidase, the other with PNPG-medium for the detection of beta-glucuronidase. The results obtained demonstrate that the procedure is sensitive, specific and accurate. Further, it presents some advantages from the practical point of view: the cost of the devices is relatively low, their use is extremely simple and short time consuming, a single thermostatic apparatus adjusted at 36 degrees C for the incubation of the devices is only required, the results can be obtained after 18 h without any apparatus for the lecture (e.g. UV apparatus), they are not submitted to subjective interpretation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine, University of Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giammanco
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pignato
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Biondi
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000379:methods*; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development*; D005618:Fresh Water; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000032:analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014876:Water Pollution; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001616:beta-Galactosidase; D005966:Glucuronidase