Sanitary significance of fecal streptococci in underground water in Egypt.

Underground water samples taken from 15 wells located at 3 municipal water works in Cairo were examined for the presence of fecal streptococci as a fecal pollution indicator. Fecal streptococci were detected in 96.4% of the 111 representative samples. Ranges of such pollution indicator were 1-17, 1-17 and 1-24 MPN/100 ml for water samples collected from wells in Mustorod, El-Marg and El-Maadi water works, respectively. A total of 200 pure strains of streptococci were isolated and subjected to biochemical and serological tests. Biochemical tests showed that only 26 strains could be classified as related to group D streptococci (enterococcus). Fore further identification, serological test was applied using 48 isolates chosen at random. The distribution of isolates among various serological groups showed that only 15 isolates (31%) could be classified into 5 defined groups (A, B, C, F and G). On the other hand, 4 isolates could not be defined serologically. The remaining 29 isolates (60%) gave a mixed reaction.