Estudio microbiológico de las Termas de la Virgen ubicado en la parroquia Matriz perteneciente al cantón Baños De Agua Santa-Tungurahua.

Abstract

The hot springs are a natural resource that has been used since ancient times as a medicine to cure certain ailments, however, Latin American countries little is the importance that has been given as palliative in the treatment of diseases. The various studies conducted in Ecuador, refer to physic-chemical properties, leaving aside the study of microbiological characteristic. By the designated previously proposed this study whose objective was to determine the microbial quality of the thermal waters of “Virgin” of the Canton Baños de Agua Santa in the province of Tungurahua. To perform microbiological studies selective in-depth type samples and used methods of sowing, crop and insulation recommended by the APHA (2005) and the AOAC (2013), using methods of crop-specific for each of the studies bacterial groups as well as also tests for the identification of obtained average, variance and deviation standard managing to determine that there are microorganisms in the water eye in minimal concentrations ((UFC/mL), on the contrary in the pool the concentration increases considerably (164 UFC/mL). It was determined that these springs are Hipertermales and have a micro little native biota for microorganisms of the genus Bacillus coagulans while that in the spa pool is a micro alien biota characterized by Chryseomona luteola, E. coli, S. aureus and S. saccharolyticus. It was concluded that the spa contains a micro biota potentially pathogenic, due to the high number of bathers and improper sanitation and disinfection of the entire infrastructure that facilitates the proliferation of microorganisms. It was recommended that Baños de Agua Santa GAD extend this study with surveys in every part of the premises to improve the sanitary quality of water and hence that bathers are expected for their health benefits.