Microbiological monitoring mf mineral water commercialized in Brazil

Abstract

The quality of mineral water commercialized in Brazil regarding the microbial content was analyzed and the results were compared with the standards established by the current legislation. Results demonstrated there was no bacterial contamination, but several types of fungi were found. Therefore, bottled mineral water could be considered a possible route for the transmission of filamentous fungi and yeasts.

Fungi in bottled water

“…Also, for this group of microorganism was not observed constancy which reinforces the suspicion that the package might be responsible for this kind of contamination. Pontara et al (2011) also verified lower yeast incidence when in 15 samples there were observed 32 colonies related to fungi, being 22 molds and only 10 yeasts.…”

“…In the fungi research in the water, there was observed the presence of 333 samples, which 218 of them, were confirmed as filamentous fungi (Oliveira, 2010). Other authors also identified fungi in water samples and among them, pathogenic species and toxin producers, suggesting harm for the health, mainly to children, elderly and patients with impaired immunologic system (Yamaguchi et al, 2007;Nunzio & Yamaguchi, 2010;Oliveira, 2010;Nunes & Fuzihara, 2011;Pontara et al, 2011). The presence of fungi in water was also referred by another author, who suggested being, the microorganisms, the responsible for sensorial alterations in the water, such as color and odor (Gonçalves et al, 2006).…”

“…The fungi research is not contemplated in the current Brazilian directives, despite widely having distributed in nature (Brasil, 2011;Oliveira et al, 2013). Studies have identified filamentous fungi and yeast in bottled water, among those, some are known as mycotoxin producers and opportunist pathogens of humans representing harm for the health mainly in immunocompromised individuals (Criado et al, 2005;Yamaguchi et al, 2007;Fernandes, 2008;Nunzio & Yamaguchi, 2010;Oliveira, 2010;Nunes & Fuzihara, 2011;Pontara et al, 2011).…”

“…Fungi have metabolic strategies that allow it to survive in oligotrophic environments such as in the clean water (Gonçalves et al, 2006;Oliveira, 2010). Water contaminated by fungi, when ingested by healthy individuals, the risk of diseases can be limited, but for immunocompromised ones, such as kids, elderlies, transplanted or immunologic disease carrier, represents significant danger, by its susceptibility to infections (Nunzio & Yamaguchi, 2010;Pontara et al, 2011). Spores can be found in water; these can be used to evaluate the capacity of species that can cause respiratory infections.…”

Microbiological assessment of bottled water brands in the Bulawayo market, Zimbabwe

“…The mean prevalence of P. aeruginosa in local bottled water brands was 8.6% while for imported brands it was 0 .6% with the prevalence in different brands illustrated in Figure 1. Since standards require zero prevalence for P. aeruginosa, higher prevalence in local brands may suggest that there is non-compliance with good manufacturing practices as reported in other studies (Abd El-Salam et al, 2008;Nunes Filho et al, 2008;Pontara et al, 2011;Raj, 2005). In a study conducted in Bulawayo in 2002, P. aeruginosa was found to have 6.7% prevalence (Okagbue et al, 2002).…”