Characterisation of faecal streptococci from some New Zealand effluents and receiving waters

Abstract

Different proportions of component species of faecal streptococci were found in New Zealand sewage, animal processing effluents, and animal faeces. Enterococcus faecium was the major species in raw sewage (43-65%), followed by E.faecalis (19-40%) or E. durans (14-23%). Meat processing effluent usually had a higher proportion of f. durans (37-73%) than sewage. Enterococci, mainly E. durans (34%), dominated in sheep faeces, but Streptococcus bovis comprised 53% of the faecal streptococci in cattle faeces. In sewagecontaminated groundwater, a survival pattern of E. faecalis > E. faecium > E. durans > S. equinus > S. bovis was predicted. The proportion of E. durans was low in rivers impacted by animal wastes, and decreased during treatment of sewage and meatworks effluent and after both effluents were mixed with sea water. Thus, superior survival of E. faecium and E. faecalis means that they are likely to be the dominant species in receiving waters, irrespective of whether the pollution is of human or animal origin. Faecal coliform : faecal streptococci/ enterococci ratios were similar in raw Received 7 September 1993; accepted 18 February 1994 sewage and meat processing effluents (generally > 3), but superior enterococcus survival caused a decrease in ratios in groundwater and sea water. Thus, these ratios are probably not useful in distinguishing between human and animal pollution sources in New Zealand receiving waters. M93047

Distribution and persistence of fecal bacterial populations in liquid and dewatered sludge from a biological treatment plant

“…were the predominant fecal coliforms. These results are in agreement with previous studies (Brown and Tracey, 1975;Hill and Sobsey, 1998;Laukova and Juris, 1997;McLellan et al, 2001;Sinton and Donnison, 1994;Svec and Sedlacek, 1999;Vilanova et al, 2004). E. coli was the main fecal coliform in any kind of the studied samples.…”

Survival of Indicator and Pathogenic Bacteria in Bovine Feces on Pasture

“…These results probably reflect well-recognized differences in species composition. The fecal streptococci include S. bovis, which comprised over one-half the fecal streptococci in fresh cow pats on nearby farms (32). Studies reviewed by Sinton et al (33,34) have shown that the S. bovis-S. equinus group is more rapidly inactivated in the environment than the enterococcal species E. faecium and E. faecalis.…”

“…The selected indicators were E. coli, fecal streptococci, and enterococci. Fecal streptococci were included in addition to enterococci because a previous survey showed that Streptococcus bovis (a non-Enterococcus species) comprised over one-half of the fecal streptococci in local cattle feces (32). The selected pathogens were Salmonella enterica and Campylobacter jejuni.…”

Distinguishing human from animal faecal contamination in water: A review

“…In sewage, faecal streptococci tend to be present in concentrations 10-100 times less than faecal coliforms (Sinton et al 1993b;Sinton & Donnison 1994). In contrast, faecal streptococci in animal faeces generally outnumber faecal coliforms-up to 10 7 per g in sheep faeces and 10 6 in cow faeces (Mara 1974;Sinton etal.…”