Detection of viable but non cultivable Escherichia coli after UV irradiation using a lytic Qβ phage

In order to qualify the germicidal efficacy of ultraviolet (UV) disinfection system, we generally determine the reduction of viable bacteria after UV-C irradiation. However, the simple count of viable and cultivable bacteria in usual media cannot reflect whether or not the UV dose applied to disinfect water is sufficient to inactivate bacteria. Indeed, there is a bacterial mix in the UV-treated water: dead bacteria, viable and cultivable bacteria and viable but noncultivable bacteria (VBNC). The third type of bacteria can constitute a potential risk for public health. In fact, VBNC bacteria can be active and cause diseases. Consequently, the combination of a conventional method used to measure colony-forming ability after UV disinfection and the determination of adsorption constants of a lytic Qβ phage in relation to irradiated host cells by an increased UV dose (Escherichia coli ATCC 13965) allows the detection of active bacteria, which lose their cultivability in usual growth media, but keep the phage susceptibility.