MICROBIOLOGY Study Guide - 2012

CHAPTER 14. SANITARY INDICATOR MICROORGANISMS

14.4. COLIPHAGES

Bacteriophages are constantly present in the intestines of humans and animals, as well as in environmental objects contaminated with feces and manure. Consequently, the presence of bacteriophages serves as an indicator of fecal contamination of Water and soil by enterobacteria, including pathogenic Escherichia, Salmonella, Shigella, and others. For a long time, bacteriophages were not used as sanitary indicator microorganisms because they persist in the environment significantly longer than enterobacteria (8–9 months). Therefore, enteric bacteriophages (colipages) can be detected both during fresh, epidemiologically hazardous fecal contamination and long after all pathogenic enterobacteria have died off.

The sanitary significance of colipages has grown following waterborne outbreaks of viral diseases (such as poliomyelitis and infectious hepatitis). It has been established that many enteroviruses and Adenoviruses—the causative agents of these diseases—are more resilient in the environment than Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Shigella. Consequently, A number of Viruses can remain viable even under conditions unfavorable to pathogenic and saprophytic enterobacteria, thus posing a distinct hazard to human health.

Thus, the detection of colipages is used as an additional test indicating fecal contamination of water and the potential presence of viral infection agents within it.



Last update: 13/08/2026

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