Microbiological Characteristics of Septage

Pathogens associated with Raw domestic sewage and sewage solids (USEPA
1992)

Pathogen Class Examples Disease or effects

Bacteria Shigella sp. Bacillary dysentery

Salmonella sp. Salmonellosis

(gastroenteritis)

Salmonella typhi Typhoid fever

Enteropathogenic- A variety of gastroenteric

Escherichia coli diseases

Yersinia sp. Yersiniosis

Campylobacter jejuni Campylobacteriosis

(gastroenteritis)
Hepatitis A virus Infectious hepatitis

Norwalk virus Acute gastroenteritis

Rotaviruses Acute gastroenteritis

Polioviruses Poliomyelitis
Vibrio cholera Cholera

Viruses Coxsackle viruses Flu-like symptoms

Echoviruses Flu-like symptoms
Reoviruses Respiratory infections,
gastroenteritis
Astroviruses Epidemic gastroenteritis
Calciviruses Epidemic gastroenteritis
Entamoeba histolytica Amebiasis (amoebic
dysentery)
Protozoa Giardia lamblia Giardiasis (gastroenteritis)
Cryptosporidium sp. Cryptosporidiosis
(gastroenteritis)
Balantidium coli Balantidiasis
(gastroenteritis)
Helminth Worms Toxoplasma gondii Toxoplasmosis
Ascaris lumbriocoides Digestive and nutritional
imbalances, abdominal
pain, restlessness
 Ascaris suum Symptoms such as
coughing, chest pain and
fever
Trichuris trichiura Abdominal pain, anaemia,
weight loss, diarrhoea
Toxocara canis Fever, abdominal
discomfort, muscle aches,
neurological symptoms
Taenia sp. Nervousness, insomnia,
anorexia, abdominal pain,
digestive disturbances
Necator americanus Hookworm disease
Hymenolepis nana Taeniasis (Tapeworm
infection)

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