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Indicator Organisms

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Basic Food Microbiology

Abstract

Indicator organisms have been used since 1892, the year Schardinger tested water for what is now called Escherichia coli, instead of testing for Salmonella typhi. It is difficult to detect S. typhi in a water supply. The presence of E coli indicates that there might have been contamination from sewage and that Salmonella or other intestinal pathogens might be present.

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  1. Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, USA

    George J. Banwart (Professor Emeritus)

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© 1989 Van Nostrand Reinhold

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Banwart, G.J. (1989). Indicator Organisms. In: Basic Food Microbiology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-6453-5_7

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