The phenotypes of 153 strains belonging or related to the genus Bijidobacterium were studied. These organisms included 38 collection strains and 115 wild strains (41 strains of human origin, 56 strains of animal origin, and 18 strains obtained from rivers or sewage). Our phenotypic analysis revealed seven main groups that were subdivided into 20 subgroups. Seven subgroups contained no type or collection strain. Among the human strains, the type strains of BiJidobacterium pseudocatenulatum and B . catenulatum fell into group I, which contained the type strains of B. adolescentis (subgroup Ib), B . dentium (subgroup Ic), and B. angulatum (ungrouped). The type strain of B. breve belonged to subgroup IIIal, and the type strains of B . infantis and B . longum fell into subgroup IIIbl. Group VII comprised only wild strains that were isolated from human infant feces. Among the animal strains, group I1 consisted mainly of bifidobacteria that were isolated from pig feces and contained the type strains of B . suis (subgroup IIb), B . thermophilum (subgroup IIf), B . choerinum, and B. boum (ungrouped). Wild strains belonging to group V were isolated from pig, calf, cow, and chicken feces; this included the type strains of B . animalis (subgroup Va), B . magnum (subgroup Vb), B . pseudolongum, and B . globosum (subgroup Vc). The strains of human origin (groups I, 111, and VII) were well separated from the animal strains (groups 11, IV, and V). It was not surprising that the wild strains isolated from surface water or sewage were distributed in the animal groups as well as the human groups. Thus, bifidobacteria can be considered to be successful indicators of human or animal fecal pollution when they are correctly classified. The acidification patterns were not adequate to differentiate Bijidobacterium species, as determined previously by Mitsuoka

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This study was initiated by the AFNOR water microbiology working group to evaluate the performance of the glass wool method for virus recovery. Its reliability was tested with drinking and sea water by respectively nine and thirteen laboratories. In both trials, six were actively involved in water virology research, one was designated as a central laboratory, the others had no experience in virological practices. Analysis of reproducibility and repeatability according to NF-ISO 5725-2 were realized. For drinking waters (24 assays), the average recovery efficiency was 72%, mean standard deviations: repeatability 12.4%; reproducibility 33.6%; inter-laboratories 21%. For sea waters (39 assays), the average recovery efficiency was 75% and the mean standard deviations 6.9%, 17.9% and 11% respectively.

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A~tract--The occurrence of sulphate reducing bacteria at high levels in various types of water suggests their faecal origin. This prompted an examination of faecal specimens for sulphate reducing bacteria. In a random choice of the same samples E. coil was also enumerated.Sulphate reducing bacteria were found at a mean rate of 10e/100g in faeces, 106/100ml in crude sewage, 105/100ml in river water and about 102/100ml in drinking water. Distribution curves of sulphate reducing bacteria and E. coli were found to be rather similar in some types of water. The ubiquitous character of sulphate reducing bacteria, their high resistance to extraenteric conditions and the rather complicated techniques required for their detection make them nevertheless less appropriate as indicator organisms in practical monitoring work.

A computer identification system, previously described, was tested on 279 β‐galactosidase‐positive enterobacteria isolated from clinical material, and the results compared with API and Micro ID methods. The system was also applied to the identification of 564 strains isolated from drinking water samples. Faecal coliform species and also some new groups and species of aquatic and telluric origin characterized by numerical analysis and DNA‐DNA hybridization procedures could be identified. The performance of the computer identification system with bacterial isolates from food and water is discussed.