title: Diversity and significance of mold species in Norwegian drinking water.
abstract: In order to determine the occurrence, distribution, and significance of mold species in groundwater- and surface water-derived drinking water in Norway, molds isolated from 273 water samples were identified. Samples of raw water, treated water, and water from private homes and hospital installations were analyzed by incubation of 100-ml membrane-filtered samples on dichloran-18% glycerol agar. The total count (number of CFU per 100 ml) of fungal species and the species diversity within each sample were determined. The identification of mold species was based on morphological and molecular methods. In total, 94 mold species belonging to 30 genera were identified. The mycobiota was dominated by species of Penicillium, Trichoderma, and Aspergillus, with some of them occurring throughout the drinking water system. Several of the same species as isolated from water may have the potential to cause allergic reactions or disease in humans. Other species are common contaminants of food and beverages, and some may cause unwanted changes in the taste or smell of water. The present results indicate that the mycobiota of water should be considered when the microbiological safety and quality of drinking water are assessed. In fact, molds in drinking water should possibly be included in the Norwegian water supply and drinking water regulations.
authors.affiliation: National Veterinary Institute, Section for Food and Feed Microbiology, P.O. Box 8156 Dep., 0033 Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Gunhild
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hageskal
authors.forename: Ann Kristin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Knutsen
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaustad
authors.forename: G Sybren
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: de Hoog
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Skaar
mesh_terms: D001230:Aspergillus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009664:Norway; D010407:Penicillium / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013045:Species Specificity; D014242:Trichoderma / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D014881:Water Supply