EXPERIMENT -DETERMINATION OF FECAL COLIFORM

INTRODUCTION


Fecal coliform bacteria are non disease causing organisms which are found in the intestinal tract of all
warm blooded animals. Faecal pollution of recreational water can lead to health problems because of the
presence of infectious microorganisms. The presence of fecal coliform bacteria in a stream or lake
indicates the presence of human or animal wastes. Each discharge of body wastes contains large amounts
of these organisms. The number of fecal coliform bacteria present is a good indicator of the amount of
pollution present in the water.

Presence of pathogens in water resources is one of the major causes for many diseases. Microbiological
examinations are based on the detection of indicators of fecal contamination. The aim of this experiment is
to examine the given sample of water for total and fecal coliform bacteria using the Multiple Tube
Fermentation Technique. There are other methods such as membrane filtration too.

PROCEDURE


Presumptive test

All the culture tubes were inoculated at 37 C for 24 hours and examined for the gas collected in the
inverted Durham tubes and for colour changes.
Tubes which did not produce a colour change were re-incubated for another 24 hours. Number of
presumptive positive tubes were recorded in each serial dilution.


Confirmatory Test

Culture tubes which showed presumptive positive results were used for the confirmatory test.
Two culture tubes containing BGB growth medium were inoculated with a single presumptive
positive tube and labeled.
Out of two produced subculture sets, one set was placed in 37 C for 48 hours and remaining set
was placed at 44 C for 24 hours and tubes containing gas at this temperature were confirmed
positive for fecal coliforms.

OBSERVATION
Presumptive Test - Number of positive test

Sample Open Area Sheltered Area
1ml 3 4
0.1 ml 2 2
0.01ml 1 1


Conformity Test - Number of positive tubes

Sample Open Area Sheltered Area
Total Fecal Total Fecal
1 ml 5 5 4 3
0.1 ml 2 1 2 0
0.01 ml 0 0 0 0


RESULTS



Percentage of fecal coliform in sheltered area =8/22 = 36.36 %
Percentage of fecal coliform in open area =30/50 = 60 %




Area Test Total/Fecal Combinations
of Positives
MPN
Index/100mL
95 % Confidence
Limits
Lower Upper
sheltered
area
Presumptive
Test
4,2,1 26 12 65
Conformity
Test
Total 4,2,0 22 9.0 56
Fecal 3,0,0 8 3.0 24
Open
area
Presumptive
Test
3,2,1 17 7.0 40
Conformity
Test
Total 5,2,0 50 20 170
Fecal 5,1,0 30 10 120

DISCUSSION

Water Getting contaminated with human and animal feces Fecal could be defined as the fecal
pollution of water. Presence of fecal coliforms in drinking water could make water born deceases. Water
should present zero fecal coliforms in order it to be potable.