[Bacterial flora of two sources of natural mineral waters; characterization by restriction patterns of the genes coding for ribosomal RNA; specificity and biological stability].

The bacterial flora of natural mineral waters was analysed using ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene restriction patterns in addition to customary identification techniques. Two springs were studied between 1989 and 1990 and six water samples per source were examined. Among the 206 bacterial strains collected at the spring, 91 (49%) were identified at species level using the API system and 99 representative strains from the two sampling points were selected for ribosomal ribonucleic acid gene restriction analysis. Forty six patterns were detected without common patterns to two springs. The bacterial association of each mineral water has a specific character (100% of specific patterns) shown by a series of patterns, not common to the other spring. This bacteriological specificity is preserved over a marked period of time, as, for each source, a great number of characteristics patterns was repeatedly found.