The ability of strains of faecal bacteria (Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and four strains of Salmonella isolated, resp., from well water, pig, poultry, and human urine in Garoua) to survive or grow in well water microcosms was compared. Water samples were obtained from two wells in Garoua (north Cameroun). Autoclaving at 121°C for 15？min and filtration through 0.2？μm filter were used to make microcosms. Microcosms were constituted of unfiltered-autoclaved, filtered-nonautoclaved, and filtered-autoclaved well waters. Bacterial strains were inoculated at initial cell concentration of 3？Log10CFU/mL. All strains were able to survive/grow in used microcosms, and a maximal concentration of 5.61？Log10CFU/mL was observed. Survival abilities were strain and microcosm dependent. The declines were more pronounced in filtered-nonautoclaved water than in the other microcosms. E. coli and Salmonella sp. (poultry strain) lowered to undetectable levels (<1？Log10CFU/mL) after two days of water storage. V. cholera decreased over time, but surviving cells persisted for longer period in filtered-nonautoclaved water from well W1 (1.91？Log10CFU/mL) and well W2 (2.09？Log10CFU/mL). Competition for nutrients and/or thermolabile antimicrobial substances synthesized by “ultramicrocells” or by the autochthonous bacteria retained by the filter might affect the bacterial survival. 1. Introduction Diarrheal diseases are among the major causes of mortality in developing countries. Most cases of diarrhea (88%) are attributable to unsafe water and inadequate sanitation and hygiene [1]. According to Ngwe and Banza-Nsungu [2], diarrheal diseases (usually linked to faecal contamination of water) cause annually 15% to 20% of all deaths in Cameroon. Cholera outbreaks are almost endemic in the norther part of this country. Cameroon Red Cross and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies stated that cholera outbreak which occurred in Cameroon in 2010 affected about 10,741 people and killed 650. The northern part of Cameroon and the littoral region were the most affected localities with 9,406 cases and 600 deaths in the far north region, 511 cases and 24 deaths in the north region, and 457 cases and 12 deaths in the littoral region. Groundwater from wells, springs, and boreholes is largely consumed due to limited tap water supply in Cameroon. These water sources have poor hygienic quality due to their proximity to latrines. Protection and upgrading of wells were recommended for safe drinking and domestic water sources [3]. Usually, groundwater is stored in
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