Ridgway H F, Olson B H
Appl Environ Microbiol. 1981 Jan;41(1):274-87. doi: 10.1128/aem.41.1.274-287.1981.
The surfaces of water distribution mains and suspended particulate matter from drinking water were examined by using scanning electron microscopy to investigate the nature and extent of association of microorganisms with these surfaces. In addition, X-ray energy-dispersive microanalysis was used to determine the elemental constitution of the pipe surface. Though distributed sparsely and randomly along the pipe surface, a variety of morphologically distinguishable bacteria-like structures and microcolonies were observed. The morphologies of the individual cells varied form chain-forming cocci to filamentous and prosthecate cell types. The iron-oxidizing bacterium Gallionella, recognized by its characteristic helical stalks, was observed both in water samples and attached to pipe surfaces. Attachment of some microbes to the pipe surface was apparently mediated by extracellular fibrillar appendages. Large numbers of rod-shaped bacteria were also evident adhering to the surfaces of suspended detritus or silt particles recovered from water samples by filtration. X-ray energy scans of the pipe surface revealed the presence of five major elemental constituents including silicon, phosphorous, sulfur, calcium, and iron. Smaller quantities of the elements zinc, magnesium, aluminum, potassium, and manganese were also detected. The public health significance of sessile microbial communities in drinking-water distribution systems is discussed.
通过扫描电子显微镜检查配水主管道表面和饮用水中的悬浮颗粒物，以研究微生物与这些表面的结合性质和程度。此外，利用X射线能量色散微分析来确定管道表面的元素组成。尽管在管道表面稀疏且随机分布，但观察到了各种形态上可区分的细菌样结构和微菌落。单个细胞的形态从链状球菌到丝状和有柄细胞类型各不相同。通过其特征性的螺旋状柄识别出的铁氧化菌嘉利翁氏菌，在水样中以及附着在管道表面均有观察到。一些微生物附着在管道表面显然是由细胞外纤维状附属物介导的。大量杆状细菌也明显附着在通过过滤从水样中回收的悬浮碎屑或淤泥颗粒表面。管道表面的X射线能量扫描显示存在五种主要元素成分，包括硅、磷、硫、钙和铁。还检测到了少量的锌、镁、铝、钾和锰元素。讨论了饮用水分配系统中固着微生物群落对公共卫生的意义。
