PCR detection of Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella sp. from bottled drinking water in Iran

Abstract

Introduction: The quality of drinking water has an important role in human health. This study was aimed to detect Escherichia. coli, Salmonella sp. and Vibrio cholerae from bottled drinking waters produced in Iran. Methodology: A total of 240 samples of bottled water of different brands were collected for testing between March 2015 to December 2015 in Shahrekord-Iran. Samples were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) combined with culture methods for the detection of E. coli, Salmonella sp., and V. cholerae. Results: The results of PCR revealed that the uidA gene from E. coli, IpaB gene from Salmonella sp, and epsM gene from V. cholerae were detected in 6 (2.5%), 1 (0.4 %), 0 (0%) of the samples, respectively. But in culture methods, only E. coli 5 (2.1%) were isolated from the samples. The contamination with E. coli was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in water produced during the hot seasons than the cold seasons. Conclusions: This study confirmed the presence of Escherichia coli as the main microorganism in bottle drinking water in Iran. Also, our study showed that PCR can be used as a screening method for monitoring the enteric pathogens in drinking water.