J Water Health 03 (2005) 229-238
Contrasting occurrence of Chromobacterium violaceum in tropical drinking water springs of Uganda
Denis Byamukama, Frank Kansiime, Andreas H. Farnleitner, Martina Burtscher, Robert L. Mach and Mohamad Manafi
Makerere University Institute of Environment & Natural Resources, PO Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda, Tel: +256-41-530135, Fax: +256-41-530134, E-mail: dbyamukama@muienr.mak.ac.ug
Makerere University Institute of Environment & Natural Resources, PO Box 7062, Kampala, Uganda, Tel: +256-41-530135, Fax: +256-41-530134, E-mail: dbyamukama@muienr.mak.ac.ug
Institute of Chemical Engineering, Department for Gene Technology and Applied Biochemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9, A-1060, Vienna, Austria
Institute of Chemical Engineering, Department for Gene Technology and Applied Biochemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9, A-1060, Vienna, Austria
Institute of Chemical Engineering, Department for Gene Technology and Applied Biochemistry, Vienna University of Technology, Getreidemarkt 9, A-1060, Vienna, Austria
Department of Food Hygiene, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, A-1095, Vienna, Austria
ABSTRACT
Occurrence of Chromobacterium violaceum in six protected drinking water springs in Uganda was investigated. C. violaceum showed a contrasting occurrence, which was independent of human impact as assessed by faecal pollution indicators. It was isolated from two springs (S1 and S2) that were located close to each other (3 km) but not in the rest. In S1 C. violaceum was continuously detected, in concentrations ranging from 6 to 270 cfu 100 ml-1, while in S2 it was detected on only one sampling occasion. C. violaceum was never detected in the investigated upper soil layers (down to 15 cm) in the immediate surroundings (50 m radius) of the springs, despite continued isolation of faecal indicators. The results of the study indicate that C. violaceum may not be ubiquitous in spring water, but could occur in significant numbers in particular potable groundwaters as an autochthonous member.
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