Fecal Streptococci
The fecal streptococci include, in addition to the entrococci, the streptococcus mitis, s. salivarius group, s. bovis and s. equinus and an atypical group resembling the entrococci.
Interest in the use of the fecal streptococci as an indicator of potential pathogen contamination by intestinal wastes stems from the appearance that this group they are characteristic of fecal pollution, they do not multiply in surface waters and they rarely occur in surface soil or on vegetation not contaminated by sewage.
Fecal streptococci have been found to inhabit the GI tract of animals in greater numbers than fecal coliforms, while fecal coliforms are the numerous bacteria in man. Fecal streptococci data when coupled with fecal coliforms in the form of the fecal coliform to fecal strep ratio may provide additional information concerning their recency and probable origin of pollution.
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