Inductive effects of environmental concentration of atrazine on Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis.
Atrazine solutions (0.1, 1, 10 and 100 microg/L) inoculated with Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis under natural conditions significantly increased (p < or = 0.05) the population levels of both test bacteria; it indicates the ability of bacterial cells to degrade atrazine and to use the original compound or its degradation products as nutrient(s). In some cases, alterations in the morphology of the colonies were also observed on selective solid media. Biochemical differentiation was also found and, on the other hand, a loss of culturability was recorded; this suggests that bacteria have entered in a viable but nonculturable state. A re-appearance of the colonies occurred after inoculation on tryptone-soy agar with atrazine.
Koutsotoli
A D
AD
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, 45110 Greece. ch01762@cc.uoi.gr
Dimou
D S
DS
Alamanos
Y P
YP
Maipa
V E
VE
D001280:Atrazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D006540:Herbicides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical
D003470:Culture Media; D006540:Herbicides; D001280:Atrazine