SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL DISTRIBUTION OF FECAL-COLIFORMS, COLIPHAGES, MOLDS AND YEASTS IN FRESH-WATER AT THE SEMIARID TROPIC NORTHEAST REGION IN BRAZIL (PARAIBA STATE)

The distribution of fecal coliforms, coliphages, moulds and casts was evaluated during the dry (summer) and rainy (winter) seasons in three lakes and two streams presenting different levels of fecal pollution, located in a semi-arid region of the Northeast of Brazil (Paraiba stat e). Boqueirao lake waters were found to be suitable for bathing but no t for unrestricted irrigation. Rain contributed to fecal pollution to a large extent. Fungal diversity in the lakes increased in parallel wi th fecal contamination. Moulds were present in all the samples but yea sts were consistently present in the high fecal pollution environments (chi(2)o=69; chi(2)cr=9.21; alpha=0.01), where Candida exhibited the highest diversity (7 species). The incidence of NSF, Candida spp. and C.albicans was higher in the more polluted waters, showing statistical ly significant differences (NSF chi(2)o= 26.2; Candida spp.chi(2)o= 12 .96; chi(2)cr=9.21; alpha=0.01). Both streams did not present any sign ificant differences in the number of taxa and fecal concentrations. Ho wever, the incidence of NSF and C.albicans was associated with fecal c oliform levels. The results suggested that NSF, Candida spp. and C.alb icans are potential indicators of fecal contamination in tropical semi -arid freshwaters. Regional studies on substrate diversity could lead to a better understanding of the distribution and richness of geofungi .