Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1
Waterborne Disease of Possible Concern
Sources of Agent
Disease and Microbial Agent General Symptoms
in Water Supply
Transmission
Salmonellosis Bacterium Contaminated water, Gastroenteritis, fever and rapid
(oral transmission) (Salmonella shellfish, turtles, fish blood-poisoning.
species)
Shigellosis* Bacterium Sludge, untreated Fever, diarrhea, bloody stools
(oral-fecal) (Shigella species) wastewater,
groundwater
contamination, poorly
disinfected drinking
water.
Typhoid fever* Bacterium Raw sewage (carried Fever, headache, constipation,
(oral-fecal) (Salmonella typhi) and excreted in feces appetite loss, nausea, diarrhea,
(of lesser concern by humans), water vomiting, abdominal rash
in U.S.) supplies with surface
water source.
Legionnaire's Bacterium/bacteria Cooling towers, Flu- and pneumonia-like
disease* (Legionellaceae showers through symptoms: malaise, achiness,
(inhalation) and L. cincinnatus) inhalation of vapors, fever, chills, headache, nausea,
raw sewage, stagnant dizziness, coughing, chest
clean drinking water congestion, chest pain pressure,
in water tanks or possible vomiting.
towers, construction
sites near rivers,
lakes.
Pontiac fever Bacterium Same sources as Milder form of Legionnaire's
(inhalation) (Legionellaceae) Legionnaire's disease. disease. Pneumonia-like
symptoms, but without fever.
Illness is shorter in length.
Viral gastroenteritis Viruses Sewage, Repeated vomiting and diarrhea
(oral-fecal) (includes Norwalk contaminated water, over 24-hour period,
and rotavirus inadequately gastrointestinal discomfort,
family) disinfected drinking headache, fever.
water (mostly surface
water sources).