The sanitary significance of coliform bacilli in soil

Abstract

Coliforms were readily obtained from many soils. In samples taken from sites exposed to animal contaminationBact. colitype I occurred predominantly. A large number of samples taken from grassy banks, only remotely exposed to contamination, were found to contain intermediates. It was found that the greater the probable degree of contamination of the soil the higher was the proportion ofBact. colitype I, and that the less the probable degree of contamination the higher was the proportion of intermediates. It is difficult to explain this merely on the basis of the prolonged survival of intermediates in soil, and it would appear obvious that the source of these intermediates lay elsewhere than in animal faeces. The numbers in which they were found in soil, however, were not of the order expected of bacteria living in their natural environment, and consequently it was equally difficult to conclude that these intermediates were actively established in soil.

Bacterial populations of some grazed pastures in Hawke's Bay

“…Of the three principal components of the enteric flora of mammals, the clostridia, the enterococci, and coliform bacteria, all are known to occur in soil. The distribution of clostridia has been recorded by Haines (1942), of enterococci by Mundt (1961), and of coliforms by numerous authors (e.g., Randall 1956;Thomas and McQuillin 1952;Thomas et al 1955;Thomas, Hobson, and Druce 1959;Thomas, Druce, and Elson 1960), Josland (1951Josland ( , 1953 in New Zealand having made a particular study of the salmonellae. The present investigations have made only a very limited study of this important flora.…”

Species composition and growth-temperature characteristics of coliforms in relation to their sources.

“…As stated by RANDALL (17), it is difficult to conclude that the coliform types are established in these environments, because of the low population densities thereof that were not of the order expected of bacteria indigenous to such environments. However, it would appear evident that the sources of the coliforms lay elsewhere than in warm-blooded animal feces.…”

Predominant Catalase-negative Soil Bacteria. I. Streptococcal Population Indigenous to Soil1

“…Previously, the isolation of streptococci from sources other than dairy products, animals, or insects has been only infrequent. Group D streptococci and related species have been found in low numbers in certain soils (14,(16)(17)(18)23), presumably from fecal contamination, and they on September 9, 2020 by guest http://aem.asm.org/ Downloaded from GLEDHILL AND CASIDA have been observed associated with some plants (17)(18)(19)(20), probably from insect contamination or wind dissemination (17). In addition, S. sanguis and S. equinus have occasionally been isolated from air and dust (7,8).…”