Helicobacter pyloriis recognized by the World Health Organization to be the primary cause of peptic ulcers, chronic gastritis, and stomach cancer, though the source of human infection is not well understood. One of the problems in understanding the source of human contamination is the difficulty in isolating the organism from the environment. However, the combination of PCR results with those of culturing of 471 drinking water samples can provide a more accurate picture ofH. pyloridetection. In this method 78 presumptiveH. pyloricolonies out of 266 tap water samples were obtained in the preliminary detection on modified Columbia agar (MCUA) slant relying on urease positivity with a rate of 29.3%. However, only 11 out of them were confirmed by Gram staining and biochemical tests reducing the rate to 4.13% whereas only 3 (1.46%) from 205 reverse osmosis (RO) water samples. Furthermore, only 6 (54.5%) out of the 11 isolates from tap water and 1 (33.3%) of the 3 RO isolates were confirmed by 16SrRNA PCR. Thus PCR confirmation reduced the rate to 2.2%. In addition, only 4 (4%) of 100 tap water samples negative forH. pyloriby culture method wereH. pyloripositive by 16SrRNA. Water samples were collected from 24 districts of Basrah Governorate from February–December 2009. The direct recovery ofH. pylorifrom drinking water is both alarming and scientifically exciting in terms of the investigation of its epidemiology.

The mode of the transmission of Helicobacter pylori infection remains poorly understood. A total of 198 samples of drinking water from 22 districts of Basra governorate were collected during the period October 2006 to July 2007. The concentration of residual chlorine was measured and the numbers of total and faecal coliforms were counted. On modified Columbia urea agar, 469 bacterial cultures were obtained, of which 173 isolates were identified. Only 14 isolates were Helicobacter spp., of which 10 were H. pylori (2.0% of the total isolates). These isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility as well as ability to tolerate chlorine at 0.5 mg/L. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of H. pylori in treated municipal drinking water.

No abstract

In the present study heavy metals resistant bacteria were isolated from soil collected from Al-Zubair district in Basra governorate south of Iraq. On the basis of morphological, biochemical, 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogeny analysis, the isolates were authentically identified as Shewanella oneidensis in addition to Bacillus thuringiensis and Deinococcus radiodurans. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of isolates against cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) was determined on solid medium. S. oneidensis showed significant resistance to high concentrations of Cd (1000 mgl-1) and Pb (700 mgl-1). The bioaccumilation capabilities of S. oneidensis for Cd and Pb were monitored at different ion concentrations and contact times. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) study confirmed the accumulation of Cd and Pb by S. oneindensis causing morphological changes.

This study in Iraq investigated the occurrence of Legionella. pneumophila in different drinkingwater sources in Basra governorate as well as the susceptibility of isolates to several antibiotics. A total of 222 water samples were collected in 2008-2009: 49 samples from water purification plants (at entry points, from precipitation tanks, from filtration tanks and at exit points), 127 samples of tap water; and 46 samples from tankers and plants supplying water by reverse osmosis. The findings confirmed the presence of L. pneumophila in sources of crude water, in general drinking water supplies and drinking water tankers. Of 258 isolates 77.1% were serotype 1 and 22.9% serotypes 2-15. All examined isolates displayed drug resistance, particularly to ampicillin, but were 100% susceptible to doxycycline. The prevalence of L. pneumophila, especially serogroup 1, is a strong indicator of unsuitability of drinking water and requires appropriate action.