Biomedicine

Abstract

Introduction and Aim: Recently About 2.2 million diarrheal deaths per year especially in developing countries, in which 1.4 million deaths among children under age five. Safe drinking water, especially in developing countries, is still a major problem. The present study was designed to explore the antibacterial effect of copper vessel stored with drinking water inoculated with diarrhea-causing bacterial strains enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), Vibrio cholera and Shigella flexneri. Materials and Methods: The bacterial strains isolated from fecal sample, identified by colony morphology and biochemical test. About 500 Colony Forming Unit (CFU/mL) of the bacterial strains of E. coli, V. cholera and S. flexneri were inoculated separately in drinking water stored in the copper vessel and non- copper vessel for 12 hrs. After incubation 100 μL of samples was taken from each copper vessel and non-copper vessel container and spread on nutrient agar for the enumeration of bacteria colonies. After 24hrs of incubation at 37°C, dishes were observed for visible bacterial colonies using colony counter. Results: The bacterial strains E. coli (ETEC) (532 CFU), V. cholera (502 CFU) and S. flexneri (512 CFU) was inoculated in copper vessel observed no growth on the selective media and when the bacterial strains inoculated in the non-copper vessel observed growth upon inoculated in selective media E. coli (ETEC) (624 CFU), V. cholera (328 CFU) and S. flexneri (483 CFU). Conclusion: The antibacterial activity may be due to the oligodynamic effect of copper which destroy the cell wall and cell membrane results in membrane damage. The present study recommends the use of cost-effective copper vessels to store drinking water especially in rural areas for protection from water-borne infection.