Document Type

Thesis - Open Access

Award Date

1970

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department / School

Bacteriology

Abstract

Because water can be a carrier of enteric pathogenic microorganisms, water pollution from a fecal source is a serious problem to a community obtaining water from streams and rivers. Adequate methods for detection of the enteric pathogens are lacking, consequently, much attention has been given to the detection of other microorganisms as indicators of fecal pollution. The microorganisms called the fecal streptococci are those streptococci which are commonly found in the intestinal tract of man and animals. The fecal streptococci have been divided into two basic groups within the Lancefield Group D streptococci. These two groups are the enterococcus group and the viridans group. Included in the enterococcus group are the Streptococcus faecalis strains and included in the viridans group are Streptococcus bovis and Streptococcus equinus. The fecal streptococci are intestinal microorganisms of man and animals. Because of their normal habitat the fecal streptococci are being studied as possible indicators of enteric pathogenic microorganisms in water. The fecal streptococci have characteristics which make them desirable as indicators of water pollution. Croft (1959) placed these characteristics into four basic statements: 1) fecal streptococci are present in feces and sewage, 2) fecal streptococci are found in polluted water, 3) fecal streptococci are not found in pure water sites away from man and animals, and 4) the fecal streptococci do not multiply outside the host in water or soil.

Library of Congress Subject Headings

Streptococcus

Pathogenic bacteria

South Dakota State University Theses

Format

application/pdf

Number of Pages

60

Publisher

South Dakota State University

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