Estudio microbiológico de las aguas termomineromedicinales del balneario “El Salado” de Baños de Agua Santa-Tungurahua.

Abstract

It was conducted Microbiological study of thermo mineral medicinal waters of Spa “El Salado” of Baños de Agua Santa-Tungurahua. The research was made at the Laboratory of Biochemical and bacteriological analysis of Sciences Faculty of Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo. In order to quantify and characterize mesophylic aerobic bacteria, fecal indicators, pathogenic bacteria, moulds and yeasts, which represent a risk to human health. The method used for counting microorganisms was on 3M™ Petrifilm™ plates by direct seeding, 1 mL of thermal water of the water hole and swimming pool, recommended by the AOAC INTERNATIOLNAL (2003). For isolation chimes was made in Agar Mueller –Hinton. Gram stain was also carried out each colony to verify if they are Gram positive or Gram negative, according to MacFaddin (2003). Furthermore, it was performed biochemical test physiological of crops and antimicrobial susceptibility testing to isolated strains using the method of Kirby Bauer agar diffusion. They were isolated 26 bacterial strains, where 58% were Gram negative bacteria and 42% Gram positive bacteria, Gram negative bacilli predominate. Stains isolated and identified in the waterhole were Bacillus spp and Staphylocccus spp. Similarly in the pool were isolated and identified species as Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter gergoviae. Budvicia aquatica, Cedecea davisae, Shewanella putrefaciens, Edwardsiella ictaluri, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus spp y Staphylococcus aureus. Therefore the hot springs of Spa “El Salado” has a great microbial diversity, constituting a risk to bathers' health. It is recommended to GAD Baños make toxicity studies of these thermal waters through linking students of the School of Biochemistry and Pharmacy.