New Protocol for the Enumeration of <i>Salmonella</i> and <i>Shigella</i> from Wastewater

Abstract

Development of stringent standards for the microbiological quality of the wastewater has necessitated a sensitive and efficient method for the enumeration of pathogens present in wastewaters. Standard methods are used all over the world for the identification of microbes by the public health engineers. However, this conventional method has serious problems, which are related to the long detection time required for turbid wastewaters and corresponding reduced isolation of the microbes. The Conventional method has been modified by omitting the concentration and blending steps, and named as the “Direct method.” The Direct method should be able to provide maximum possible recovery specifically for the turbid wastewaters. An existing sewage treatment plant was selected to carry out the study over a period of six months. Samples were collected from the various stages of treatment and analyzed for the isolation of