The use of bacteriophages for monitoring the microbiological quality of sewage sludge.
The use of bacteriophages as potential indicators of faecal pollution has recently been studied. The correlation of the number of bacterial indicators and the presence of three groups of bacteriophages, namely somatic coliphages (SOMCPH), F-RNA specific phages (FRNAPH) and phages of Bacteroides fragilis (BFRPH), in raw and treated sludge is presented in this study. Raw and anaerobically digested sewage sludge samples from two wastewater treatment plants in Athens were collected on a monthly basis, over a 2-year period, and analyzed for total coliforms, E. coli, intestinal enterococci and the three groups of bacteriophages. A clear correlation between the number of bacterial indicators and the presence of bacteriophages was observed. E. coli concentrations of > or =10(3) cfus g(-1) and <10(3) cfus g(-1) comprise a threshold for the presence of FRNAPH and BFRPH, respectively. Likewise, intestinal enterococci concentrations of > or =10(4) cfus g(-1) and <10(3) cfus g(-1) comprise a threshold for the presence of FRNAPH and BFRPH, respectively. In the case of SOMCPH, it was not possible to define a threshold, since they were detected with the lowest observed indicator concentrations in all samples.
Mandilara
G
G
National School of Public Health, Department of Microbiology, 196, Alexandras Ave. 115 21 Athens, Greece.
Mavridou
A
A
Lambiri
M
M
Vatopoulos
A
A
Rigas
F
F
D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000378:metabolism*; D003090:Coliphages / Q000378:metabolism; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000254:growth & development*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development*; D012317:RNA Phages / Q000378:metabolism; D012722:Sewage / Q000382:microbiology*; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014871:Water Microbiology
D012722:Sewage