Firefly's glow in bacteria tester

Chemicals in the firefly's glow have been used

The glow of the firefly is being used to spot lethal bacteria in swimming pools and spas.

Scientists in Bridgend, south Wales have utilized the chemical which makes the firefly glow, to detect germs like legionella bacterium and E.coli.

Swimmers are under constant threat from picking up infections from the microscopic bugs which can thrive in warm water.

Experts at Biotrace International have now made a device, which can detect the presence of the microbes within seconds, and ensure that people are swimming in bacteria-free waters.

The device works by using enzymes from the firefly which light up when they come into contact with the bacteria.

The amount of light produced is then measured by a monitor which calculates how much bacteria is present.

The device can make sure swimming pool water is safe

The company's sophisticated technology has expanded the device to be used in the food industry and 15 million kits have already been sold.

Gareth Lang, a microbiologist with the company, said: "I think it is possible that people do get infections from pools and other areas and may get symptoms maybe two or three days later.

"They may not necessarily associate it with the area they have been in so they could have been to a pool and picked up an infection and not report it to their doctor and it will never be recognised," he said.

Traditional methods of detecting bacteria can take days for a result.

But the new device gives a reading in seconds, which is critical when dealing with the possible contamination of legionella bacterium or E-coli.

E.coli is a bacterium present in the intestine which can cause vomiting, stomach pain, diarrhoea and fever.

Legionnaires' disease, also known as Legionellosis, is a rare form of pneumonia which is fatal in between five and 15% of cases.

It takes its name from the first known outbreak which occurred in a hotel that was hosting a convention of the Pennsylvania Department of the American Legion in 1976.