Characterisation of faecal streptococci from some New Zealand effluents and receiving waters

Abstract

Abstract Different proportions of component species of faecal streptococci were found in New Zealand sewage, animal processing effluents, and animal faeces. Enterococcus faecium was the major species in raw sewage (43–65%), followed by E.faecalis (19–40%) or E. durans (14–23%). Meat processing effluent usually had a higher proportion of f. durans (37–73%) than sewage. Enterococci, mainly E. durans (34%), dominated in sheep faeces, but Streptococcus bovis comprised 53% of the faecal streptococci in cattle faeces. In sewage‐contaminated groundwater, a survival pattern of E. faecalis > E. faecium > E. durans > S. equinus > S. bovis was predicted. The proportion of E. durans was low in rivers impacted by animal wastes, and decreased during treatment of sewage and meatworks effluent and after both effluents were mixed with sea water. Thus, superior survival of E. faecium and E. faecalis means that they are likely to be the dominant species in receiving waters, irrespective of whether the pollution is of human ...