• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.43 no.2
• /
• pp.106-110
• /
• 2007

The detection and distribution of Aeromonas in water supplies were investigated by using the USEPA Method 1605. Water samples were collected from the Han River, finished waters and tap waters supplied from Water Treatment Plants in Seoul monthly from July 2002 to December 2003. Aeromonas species in each water sample were quantified based on the development of yellow colonies on the surface of membrane filter using a selective medium (Ampicillin-Dextrin Agar with Vancomycin). The Quality Control (QC) for this study met the acceptance criteria of Method 1605. The concentrations of Aeromonas species in surface water samples ranged from $1.0{\times}10^{0}\;to\;9.8{\times}10^{3}\;CFU/ml$. Aeromonas species were found only in one tap water sample with concentration of 1 CFU/500 ml. No Aeromonas species were found in any finished water samples. Aeromonas species detected here were identified as A. salmonicida(51%), A. caviae(4.7%), A. schubertti(3.4%), A. sobria(3.8%), A. hydrophila(2.1%), and A. ichithiosmia(0.4%). A. salmonicida was the dominant species, which is of no significance to human health. Chlorine resistance of A. salmonicida was evaluated and as a result, 99.99% of A. salmonicida decreased after 30 seconds exposure at residual free chlorine 0.2 mg/L. These suggest that the waters supplied in Seoul may be safe against the pathogenic agent Aeromonas.