Revista de biología marina y oceanografía

Microbiological Sandy Beach Quality in Western Algeria

Amaria Matallah-Boutiba, Nadjet Benmessaoud, Naima Messaoui and Zitouni Boutiba

Microbiological Sandy Beach Quality in Western Algeria

Whilst the potential impact on beach users from microorganisms in water has received considerable attention, there has been relatively little investigation into microbial contaminants in sand. From a recreational point of view, sandy beaches are the busiest because they represent a space of relaxation and leisure. Following the large attendance, a possible microbiological contamination of the sand could be a source of pathogenic transmission. Four beaches across western Algeria (Oran) were analyzed during a two-year period (2013–2015) to determine the presence of yeasts, fungi, total coliforms, fecal coliformes, E. coli, Staphylocoques and Pseudomonas in sand. A total of 233 fungi isolates was discerned in the four study areas and an enumeration of 13 genera of nondermatophytic filamentous fungi and five yeast- species belonging to four genera were identified. The fungal species identified in order of importance are: Penicillium spp. Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Fusarium, Rhodoturula, Alternaria spp. Mucor, Candida zeylanoïdes, Phialophora spp., Cryptococcus albidus, Rhizopus spp., Scopulariopsis spp., Chrysosporium spp., Geotrichum spp., Acremonium spp., Rhizomucor spp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida albicans. The high level of total coliforms was 18500 cfu/100 ml, fecal coliformes 5400 cfu/100 ml, E. coli 3100 cfu/100 ml, Staphylococci 5400 cfu/100 ml and Pseudomonas 1100 cfu/100 ml. Among this biodiversity, some species are highly pathogenic to humans, and represent a real danger to public health.