It has been suggested recently (Mossel, 1958) that the bifid bacteria (usually referred to as Lactobacillus bifidus in the literature) may be suitable indicators of fecal contamination of foods and/or waters. The feces of man and certain animals are rich sources of these organisms (Haenel, 1956; Haenel and Miller-Beuthow, 1956) which, so far as is known, do not grow in other natural environment...

The original use of “indicator” organisms to signal the possible presence of pathogenic bacteria dates back more than a hundred years. Since then, the use of these organisms as predictors of pathogens has been extended from water to a variety of raw and processed food products. When used to predict the possible presence of pathogens, the term “index organism” is now preferred; “indicator organi...

This study aimed to assess the importance of quantitatively detecting Campylobacter spp. in environmental surface water. The prevalence and the quantity of Campylobacter spp., thermotolerant coliforms, and Escherichia coli in 2,471 samples collected weekly, over a 2-year period, from 13 rivers and 12 streams in the Eastern Townships, Québec, Canada, were determined. Overall, 1,071 (43%), 1,481 ...

The objective of this study was to compare conventional plating to SimPlate methods for enumeration of aerobic microorganisms, coliforms and Escherichia coli in samples from farm animals and their environment. Samples evaluated included rectal swabs, fecal material, bedding, litter and feed and soil from beef and dairy cattle, swine and poultry farms. Standard method agar pour plating and conve...

The performance of rapid and practicable techniques that presumptively identify total coliforms (TC), fecal coliforms (FC), Escherichia coli, and Clostridium perfringens spores (CP) by testing them on a pollution gradient in differing aquatic habitats in a high-altitude tropical country was evaluated during a 12-month period. Site selection was based on high and low anthropogenic influence crit...

In November 1982, Meade County, Kentucky health officials noted a sudden increase in the incidence of hepatitis A. Using a standardized interview of 73 cases (68 serologically confirmed), and 85 controls (all negative for antibody to hepatitis A virus), the most important risk factor identified was household use of untreated water from a single spring. A dose-response relationship was found for...