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Applied and Environmental Microbiology, December 2006, p. 7586-7593, Vol. 72, No. 12
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.01628-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Diversity and Significance of Mold Species in Norwegian Drinking Water{triangledown}

Gunhild Hageskal,1 Ann Kristin Knutsen,1 Peter Gaustad,2 G. Sybren de Hoog,3 and Ida Skaar1*

National Veterinary Institute, Section for Food and Feed Microbiology, P.O. Box 8156 Dep., 0033 Oslo, Norway,1 Department of Medical Microbiology, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway,2 Centraalbureau voor Schimmelcultures, P.O. Box 85167, AD Utrecht, The Netherlands3

Received 13 July 2006/ Accepted 2 October 2006

In order to determine the occurrence, distribution, and significance of mold species in groundwater- and surface water-derived drinking water in Norway, molds isolated from 273 water samples were identified. Samples of raw water, treated water, and water from private homes and hospital installations were analyzed by incubation of 100-ml membrane-filtered samples on dichloran-18% glycerol agar. The total count (number of CFU per 100 ml) of fungal species and the species diversity within each sample were determined. The identification of mold species was based on morphological and molecular methods. In total, 94 mold species belonging to 30 genera were identified. The mycobiota was dominated by species of Penicillium, Trichoderma, and Aspergillus, with some of them occurring throughout the drinking water system. Several of the same species as isolated from water may have the potential to cause allergic reactions or disease in humans. Other species are common contaminants of food and beverages, and some may cause unwanted changes in the taste or smell of water. The present results indicate that the mycobiota of water should be considered when the microbiological safety and quality of drinking water are assessed. In fact, molds in drinking water should possibly be included in the Norwegian water supply and drinking water regulations.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Section for Food and Feed Microbiology, P.O. Box 8156 Dep., 0033 Oslo, Norway. Phone: (47) 23216244. Fax: (47) 23216202. E-mail: ida.skaar{at}vetinst.no.

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 6 October 2006.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, December 2006, p. 7586-7593, Vol. 72, No. 12
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.01628-06
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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