Survival and persistence of nonspore-forming biothreat agents in water.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether nonspore-forming biothreat agents can survive and persist in potable water that does not contain a disinfectant.


RESULTS
Autoclaved, de-chlorinated Atlanta municipal water was inoculated with eight isolates of bacterial biothreat agents (10⁶ CFU ml⁻¹). The inoculated water samples were incubated at 5, 8 (Francisella tularensis only) or 25°C and assayed for viability by culture and by the presence of metabolic activity as measured by esterase activity (ScanRDI, AES Chemunex). Viability as determined by culture varied from 1 to 30 days, depending upon the organism and the temperature of the water. All organisms were determined viable as measured by esterase activity for the entire 30 days, regardless of the incubation temperature.


CONCLUSIONS
Francisella tularensis was culturable for at least 21 days if held at 8°C. The remaining nonspore-forming bacterial biothreat agents were found to be metabolically active for at least 30 days in water held at 5 or 25°C.


CONCLUSIONS
The data can assist public health officials to determine the safety of drinking water after contamination with a biothreat agent.
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. segilbert@cdc.gov
S E
SE
Gilbert
L J
LJ
Rose
D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D002002:Brucella / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D019117:Burkholderia / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004202:Disinfectants; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D005604:Francisella tularensis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D050296:Microbial Viability; D013696:Temperature; D014871:Water Microbiology; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification
D054045:Biological Warfare Agents; D004202:Disinfectants; D060766:Drinking Water