fecal indicator bacteria are those who indicate the fecal contamination in water bodies, recreational water, etc. They used to assess the microbiological quality of water. There are many type of indicator bacteria like total, fecal streptococci, enterobacteria etc.

1. FECAL INDICATOR
BACTERIA
PRESENTED TO; PRESENTED BY;
SWATHILAKSHMI PS
Dr. SREENA RAJ M.Sc. MARINE BIOLOGY
EMPANELLED GUEST OST-2021-20-26
LECTURER
DEPT. OF BIOTECHNOLOGY
KUFOS
9/18/2022
1

2. INTRODUCTION
Fecal indicator bacteria are used to assess the microbiological
quality of water.
They are associated with fecal contamination and the possible
presence of waterborne pathogen.
Fecal material from warm blooded animals may contain
variety of intestinal micro-organisms that are pathogenic to
humans.
Fecal pollution may have an impact on both human health and
environment.
9/18/2022
2

3. WHAT IS FECAL INDICATOR BACTERIA?
Fecal indicator bacteria are used measure the sanitary
quality of water for recreational industrial, agricultural and
water supply purpose
9/18/2022
3

4. FECAL BACTERIAAND THEIR
IMPORTANTS
 Members of two bacteria groups, coliform and fecal streptococci are
indicators.
 Indicate the possible presence of pathogenic bacteria, virus and
protozoans.
 The presence of pathogen is determined by testing coliform bacteria.
9/18/2022
4

5. INDICATOR BACTERIA TYPE
 Indicator organisms are microorganisms such as bacteria and viruses
in water bodies.
 which are utilized as a surrogate to evaluate the presence of
pathogens in that environment.
 These microorganisms are preferred to be nonpathogen, have no or
minimal growth in water, and reliably detectable at low
concentrations.
 Most commonly tested fecal bacteria indicators are total coliforms,
fecal coliforms, E.coli, fecal streptococci, enterococci.
9/18/2022
5

6. TYPES
1.TOTAL COLIFORM
 A group of bacteria that wide spread in nature.
 All members of the total coliform group can occur in human feces.
 The usefulness of total coliforms as an indicator of fecal
contamination depends on the extent to which the bacteria species
found are fecal and human in origin.
 For drinking water, total coliforms are the standard test because their
presence indicates contamination of water.
9/18/2022
6

7. 2.Fecal coliform
 A subset of total coliform bacteria.
 This group contains a genus Klebsiella sp. That are not necceserily
fecal in origin.
 Klebsiella are commonly associated with textile, pulp and paper mill
waste.
 For recreational water, this group was the primary bacteria indicator.
9/18/2022
7

8. 3. E.coli
 E.coli is a species of fecal coliform bacteria.
 E.coli is the best indicator of health risk from water contact in
recreational water.
 The coliform group is not a valid taxonomic distinction but defined
functionally; by fermentation of lactose in the coliform test.
 Gram negative, oxidase negative, aerobic or facultative anerobic
non-spore forming rods.
 Which ferment lactose to produce acid and gas with in 48h and 37℃
9/18/2022
8

9. 4. Fecal streptococci
 This group comprise Streptococcus faecalis, S.boyis, S.equinus and
S.arium.
 Because they commonly inhabitant the intestinal tract of humans
and warm blooded animals.
 Members of this group survive longer than other bacterial indicator.
 FC/FS ratio served for many years as an indicator.
 A ratio of ≥4 indicates contamination of human origin.
 Where as ratio of ≤ 0.7 is indicative of animal pollution.
9/18/2022
9

10. ANAEROBIC BACTERIA
Clostridium perfringens
 Anerobic, gram positive, endospore forming, rod shaped, sulfate
reducing bacterium found in the colon
 Represents approximately 0.5 percent of fecal microflora.
 It produce spore that are quite resistant to environmental stress and
to disinfection
 The hardy spores makes this bacterium too resistant to be useful as
an indicator organism.
9/18/2022
10

11.  Bifidobacteria
 anerobic, non spore forming, gram positive bacteria live in human
and animal guts.
 Bifidobacterium is the third most common genus found in the
human intestinal microflora.
 B.bifidium, B.adolescentis, B.infantis
9/18/2022
11

12. HETEROTROPHIC PLATE COUNT
 The heterotrophic plate count represent aerobic and facultative
anerobic bacteria that derive their carbon and energy from organic
compounds.
 The number of recovered bacteria depend on medium composition.
 Low nutrient medium, R2A is used to determine bacterial number in
water distribution system.
9/18/2022
12

13. CRITERIA FOR AN IDEAL INDICATOR
ORGANISM
 The organism should be useful for all type of water.
 The organism should have a reasonably longer survival time than
the hardiest enteric pathogen.
 The testing method should easy to perform.
 It should be non-pathogenic in nature.
9/18/2022
13

14. CONCLUSION
 Indicator organisms are bacteria that are used as a sign of quality or
hygienic status in a food, water or environment.
 Indicator organism serve important function in microbiological testing
programs.
 The best indicator of health risk from recreational water contact in
freshwater are E.coli and enterococci.
 Fecal coliforms as a group were determined to be a poor indicator of the
risk of digestive system illness.
 These bacteria organism help to identify the pathogenic bacteria from
water bodies.
9/18/2022
14

15. REFERENCES
 archive.epa.gov/water/archive/web/html/vms5H.html
 Link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40572-020-00278
 Fecal indicator bacteria
9/18/2022
15

16. THANKYOU
9/18/2022
16