Treated groundwater is a major source of drinking water but subject to potential contamination of fecal–oral pathogens. To understand ecology of the pathogens in the treated water, this study evaluated survival and growth of Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli in the treated groundwater in northern Cameroon. E. coli and V. cholerae O1 were isolated from human feces. Water samples were collected from the following sources: a well, tap water from the Cameroon Water Utilities Company, and mineral and borehole waters sold in Maroua, respectively. These waters were treated by one or more processes, including autoclaving, filtration, chlorination and ozonation and were used for the constitution of microcosms. E. coli and V. cholerae were inoculated into each microcosm at respective concentrations of 50 CFU/10 mL (separately) and 40 CFU/10 mL each (together). All bacterial strains survived in all microcosms were used. The ability to survive and grow varied with the bacterial strain and microcosm (P < 0.05). When inoculated separately into the same type of microcosms, V. cholerae grew faster than E. coli with the latter even showing decrease in concentration in mineral water. When inoculated together, V. cholerae grew faster than E. coli, except in autoclaved well water and filtered and autoclaved well water. Autochthonous ultramicroflora inhibited the growth of E. coli in filtered well water (P < 0.05).

经过处理的地下水是饮用水的主要来源，但可能会污染粪便病原体。为了了解经过处理的水中病原体的生态学，本研究评估了喀麦隆北部经过处理的地下水中霍乱弧菌和大肠杆菌的存活和生长。从人类粪便中分离出大肠杆菌和霍乱弧菌O1。从以下来源收集水样：一口井，喀麦隆自来水公司的自来水以及分别在Maroua出售的矿泉水和井水。这些水经过一种或多种工艺处理，包括高压灭菌，过滤，氯化和臭氧化处理，并用于微观世界的构成。大肠杆菌将霍乱弧菌和霍乱弧菌分别以50 CFU / 10 mL（分别）和40 CFU / 10 mL（共同）的浓度接种到每个缩影中。使用在所有微观世界中存活的所有细菌菌株。生存能力和生长能力随细菌菌株和微观世界而变化（P  <0.05）。当分别接种到相同类型的微观世界中时，霍乱弧菌的生长速度快于大肠杆菌，后者甚至显示出矿泉水中浓度的降低。一起接种时，霍乱弧菌的生长速度快于大肠杆菌，但在高压灭菌的井水中以及过滤和高压灭菌的井水中除外。土生超微生物菌群抑制大肠杆菌的生长在过滤的井水中（P  <0.05）。