title: Fungi from a Groundwater-Fed Drinking Water Supply System in Brazil.
abstract: Filamentous fungi in drinking water distribution systems are known to (a) block water pipes; (b) cause organoleptic biodeterioration; (c) act as pathogens or allergens and (d) cause mycotoxin contamination. Yeasts might also cause problems. This study describes the occurrence of several fungal species in a water distribution system supplied by groundwater in Recife-Pernambuco, Brazil. Water samples were collected from four sampling sites from which fungi were recovered by membrane filtration. The numbers in all sampling sites ranged from 5 to 207 colony forming units (CFU)/100 mL with a mean value of 53 CFU/100 mL. In total, 859 isolates were identified morphologically, with Aspergillus and Penicillium the most representative genera (37% and 25% respectively), followed by Trichoderma and Fusarium (9% each), Curvularia (5%) and finally the species Pestalotiopsis karstenii (2%). Ramichloridium and Leptodontium were isolated and are black yeasts, a group that include emergent pathogens. The drinking water system in Recife may play a role in fungal dissemination, including opportunistic pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Antibiotics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Morais Rego, 1235, Recife, Pernambuco 50670-901, Brazil. helenambo@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: Helena M B
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Sciences and Natural Resources, BIOREN-UFRO Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco 4811-230, Chile. cledir.santos@ufrontera.cl.
authors.forename: Cledir
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal. russell.paterson@deb.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: R Russell M
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.affiliation: Department of Antibiotics, Federal University of Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Morais Rego, 1235, Recife, Pernambuco 50670-901, Brazil. nbg@ufpe.br.
authors.forename: Norma B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Gusmão
authors.affiliation: Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, Braga 4710-057, Portugal. nelson@ie.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lima
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060587:Groundwater / Q000382:microbiology*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply
chemical_list: D060766:Drinking Water
keywords: filamentous fungi; pathogens; water distribution system; yeasts