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Occurrence of Coliforms and Enterococcus Species in Drinking Water Samples Obtained from Selected Dairy Cattle Farms in Portugal

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  • Ana Sofia Soares

    (CECAV–Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
    Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

  • Carla Miranda

    (Department of Sciences, University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), CESPU, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
    Toxicology Research Unit (TOXRUN), University Institute of Health Sciences (IUCS), CESPU, CRL, 4585-116 Gandra, Portugal
    Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQVREQUIMTE), University NOVA of Lisbon, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal)

  • Ana Claudia Coelho

    (CECAV–Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
    Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Sciences (AL4AnimalS), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

  • Henrique Trindade

    (Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), UTAD, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
    Inov4Agro—Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-food Production, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal)

Abstract

Microbial water quality is a major concern in the world, since the ingestion of water contaminated with microorganisms poses risks to human and animal health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of drinking water on dairy cattle farms. The study was carried out to determine the occurrence of coliforms and enterococcus species in drinking water samples obtained from selected dairy cattle farms located in four different areas of Portugal (north, central, south and islands). A questionnaire was used to collect relevant information regarding farmer demographics, characteristics of the cattle farms, as well as number of animals per herd, number of adult cows, production type, water source, use of disinfectants and pasture area. In this study, a convenience sample of 32 dairy cattle farms was subjected to screening for water quality. The numbers of animals in the study were 8086 cattle, with a mean herd size of 253, of which 51.7% were cows. Coliform and enterococcus bacterial species were identified by performing the membrane filtration method. The occurrence of poor water quality was recorded in 19 (59.4%) cattle farms. Isolated bacteria included Escherichia coli (20.0%), Enterococcus faecalis (25.0%), total coliforms (65.6%) and fecal coliforms (43.8%). Farms that did not routinely perform disinfection had the worst water quality (70.8%) when compared with farms that performed disinfection (25.0%) ( p = 0.022). This research revealed the importance of screening the quality of drinking water on cattle farms, which could contribute to improved animal, human and environmental health in a One Heath approach.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Sofia Soares & Carla Miranda & Ana Claudia Coelho & Henrique Trindade, 2023. "Occurrence of Coliforms and Enterococcus Species in Drinking Water Samples Obtained from Selected Dairy Cattle Farms in Portugal," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-10, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jagris:v:13:y:2023:i:4:p:885-:d:1125623
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhao Chen & Xiuping Jiang, 2014. "Microbiological Safety of Chicken Litter or Chicken Litter-Based Organic Fertilizers: A Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 4(1), pages 1-29, January.
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