Water samples of ten mineral water springs at Miercurea Ciuc (Csikszereda) region
(Romania) were examined during 2005-2006 using cultivation-dependent microbiological
methods. The results of standard hygienic bacteriological tests showed that the Hargita
Spring had perfect and five other springs had microbiologically acceptable water quality
(Zsogod-, Nagy-borviz-, Taploca-, Szentegyhaza- and Lobogo springs). The water of
Borsaros Spring was exceptionable (high germ count, presence of Enterococcus spp.).
Both standard bacteriological and molecular microbiological methods indicated that
the microbiological water quality of the Szeltersz-, Nadasszek- and Delo springs was
not acceptable. Bad water quality resulted from inadequate spring catchment and hygiene
(low yield, lack of runoff, negligent usage of the springs, horse manure around the
spring). The 16S rRNA gene-based identification of strains isolated on standard meat-peptone
medium resulted in the detection of typical aquatic organisms such as Shewanella baltica,
Aeromonas spp., Pseudomonas veronii, Psychrobacter sp,. Acinetobacter spp. and allochthonous
microbes, like Nocardia, Streptomyces, Bacillus, Microbacterium, and Arthrobacter
strains indicating the impact of soil. Other allochthonous microbes, such as Staphylococcus
spp., Micrococcus sp., Lactococcus sp., Clostridium butyricum, Yersinia spp., Aerococcus
sp., may have originated from animal/human sources.