Enumeration and identification of pathogenic bacteria from sewage in Kuwait

Mycobacterium spp. was isolated and enumerated in all sewage samples at different stages of the sewage treatment. Aeromonas hydrophila, Salmonella spp., Shigella dysenteriae and others were isolated from both treated and untreated sewage. Moreover, the serological identification of Salmonella spp. was also done, using antisera specific to their antigenic structures. Counts of bacteria in various sewage sludges and effluents tested showed the efficiency of the activated sludge process in reducing the bacterial number. Seasonal variation in either the number or kind of pathogenic bacteria revealed inconsiderable changes. Almost all species of bacteria tested were found to be resistant to ampicillin.