INDICATIVE, PATHOGENIC, AND MARINE BACTERIA IN THE SEA Studies of the occurrence and survival of sewage-origin bacteria in coastal waters and sediments

Studies of the occurrence and survival of sewage-origin bacteria in coastal waters and sediments continued this year at the marine microbiology laboratory at California State University at Long Beach. The goal of these studies has been to determine what relationships, if any, exist between the routinely sampled indicator bacteria (e.g., coliforms, fecal streptococci) and pathogenic bacteria (e.g., salmonella, staphylococci) in coastal waters. The objectives were to (1) improve and refine procedures for sampling and isolating pathogenic bacteria in seawater and sediment samples and (2) identify differences between laboratory survival tests and actual distribution of bacteria in the field. Mr. Daryl Osato, graduate student, and Mr. Chee Ho, student technician, assisted in field sampling and isolation procedures.