The occurrence and significance to animal health ofLeptospira, Mycobacterium, Escherichia coli, Brucella abortusandBacillus anthracisin sewage and sewage sludges

Abstract
SUMMARY: Samples of sewage, sewage sludge and sewage effluent from one or more of four sewage treatment plants were examined for the presence ofLeptospira, Mycobacterium, Escherichia coli, Brucella abortusandBacillus anthracis. Brucella abortusandBacillus anthraciswere not isolated. Eleven strains ofE. colipotentially enteropathogenic for calves or piglets, eight pathogenic strains ofMycobacteriumand one pathogenicLeptospirastrain were isolated from 101, 189 and 189 samples respectively.Sewage sludge is not considered to play a major part in the epidemiology of disease caused by these organisms.