Occurrence and Nutritional Relations of the Limax‐Amoebae Group in Bathing Pool Waters

Abstract

Szcmnmry : In 392 samples from 14 balneological therapeutic pools and two swimming pools with untreated and chlorinated water of 15 ... 30 "C the following species were found in 72 %of the samples (percentage of positive samples) : Acanthamoeba pdyphaga (10.5), A. castellani (3.7). Naegleriu gruberi (5.9), A' . lovaniensis (12.7), Vahlkampfia ustiniana (7.2), V . spec. (15.8), Hartmanella vermiforwis and H . exudans (i3.1), H . spec. (31.2). 47 0,b of the positive findings grew also a t 37 "C, 9 O,o of them also at 44 "c'. The average densities amounted t o between 27 and 777 ind./l. the maxima were between 66 and more than 1000 ind./l. Neither heterotrophic bacteria nor amoebas could be detected in 25 samples, in the other samples a significant regression exists between the number of amoebas per litre A and the number of bacteria N/ml of the form lg A =0.47 x lg N 1-1.22.Because of the danger of the occurrence of pathogenic amoebas, too, in the bathing pool waters, the analysis for amoebas is recommended to check the bathing water. As atemporary working level, the absence of amoebas in a sample of 100 ml is proposed.