Impact of silver and copper on the survival of amoebae and ciliated protozoa in vitro.
The efficacy of 1:10 silver/copper combinations for inactivation of Hartmannella vermiformis amoebas and the ciliated protozoan Tetrahymena pyriformis in vitro was studied. Tetrahymena and Hartmannella/isolate 19 were inactivated for 2 log steps by 100 + 1000 micrograms/l Ag + Cu. Hartmannella/isolate 21 was more resistant. 500 + 5000 micrograms/l produced only a 0.6 log reduction. The investigations clearly showed that levels within the limit of the German drinking water regulation (10 + 100 micrograms/l Ag + Cu) could not inactivate these protozoas in vitro.
Rohr
U
U
Abteilung für Hygiene, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Germany. Rohr@hygiene.ruhr-uni-bochum.de
Weber
S
S
Selenka
F
F
Wilhelm
M
M
D000562:Amebiasis / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D003300:Copper / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006249:Hartmannella / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D012834:Silver / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013769:Tetrahymena pyriformis / Q000187:drug effects*; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology*; D018508:Water Purification
D004202:Disinfectants; D014867:Water; D012834:Silver; D003300:Copper