Table 1. Examples of Pathogens in Inadequately Treated Municipal Wastewater
ORGANISM DISEASE / SYMPTOMS
Bacteria Vibrio cholerae Cholera
Salmonella spp. Salmonellosis (food poisoning), typhoid fevers
Shigella spp. Bacillary dysentery
Yersinia spp. Acute gastroenteritis (including diarrhea, abdominal
pain)
Campylobacter
jejuni
Gastroenteritis

Escherichia coli
(pathogenic
strains)
Gastroenteritis

Viruses

Hepatitis A virus Infectious hepatitis
Polio virus Poliomyelitis
Coxsackievirus Meningitis, pneumonia, hepatitis, fever, common colds,
etc.
Echovirus Meningitis, paralysis, encephalitis, fever, common
colds, diarrhea, etc.
Rotavirus Acute gastroenteritis with severe diarrhea
Norwalk agents Epidemic gastroenteritis with severe diarrhea
Reovirus Respiratory infections, gastroenteritis
Protozoa Cryptosporidium Gastroenteritis
Entamoeba
histolytica
Acute enteritis
Giardia lambia Giardiasis (including diarrhea, abdominal cramps,
weight loss)
Balantidium coli Diarrhea and dysentery
Toxoplasma gondii Toxoplasmosis
Helminth
Worms
Ascaris
lumbricoides
Digestive and nutritional disturbances, abdominal
pain, vomiting, restlessness
Ascaris suum Coughing, chest pain, and fever
Trichuris trichiura Abdominal pain, diarrhea, anemia, weight loss
Toxocara canis Fever, abdominal discomfort, muscle, aches,
neurological symptoms

This list is not complete.

A