Abstract

Microbial biofilms are dynamic community of microbes strongly attached to biologic and non-biologic substrates enclosed in self-produced protective exo-polymeric matrix or primary polysaccharide material. Bacteria are the probable most frequently studied microbe in biofilms. This study determined the filamentous fungi associated with biofilms in stored drinking water. Filamentous fungi involvement in biofilm production was determined using Congo Red Agar (CRA) method, complemented with wet mount method for examination of fungal isolates of the culture. Results obtained revealed that five filamentous fungi species were associated with biofilm production in the stored drinking water samples. The fungi included: Fusarium oxysporium, Rhizopus stolonifer, Alternaria alternata, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium species. Results also revealed that A. alternata had the highest frequency of occurrence (40%) than other fungal species. The mycelia of F. oxysporium were in pellets, a possible induction of sporulation. This pelletization is attributed to the medium of isolation which contained polysaccharide starch and inulin. In all, this study has shown that filamentous fungi are associated with biofilm formation in stored drinking water. Drinking water should therefore be handled with utmost care to exclude human fungal infections.