Salmonella spp

Salmonella can cause widespread human diseases, caused by ubiquitous serotypes widely distributed in farm animals or associated with the ingestion of contaminated food and water. The disease usually manifests with mild diarrhea and enterocolitis and generally resolves spontaneously.

The presence of salmonella in the aquatic environment is an indication of primary fecal contamination (direct discharge from sewage) or secondary contamination (for example, runoff from contaminated soil).

Salmonella can be found in sewage, wastewater, coastal waters, surface waters, lake waters, and waters used for livestock and agriculture. In treated and disinfected waters, the presence of Salmonella spp. is extremely rare and generally associated with deficiencies in water treatment processes.

Chlorination, in fact, is still considered an effective preventive measure. However, under favorable environmental conditions, salmonella can survive for weeks in water and for months in soil*.

* Rapporti ISTISAN 07/5 ISSN 1123-3117  ** Licenze di brevetto WO 00/28082, WO 01/34790, WO 01/77317, WO 02/24902, WO 01/34838  *** Brevetto per invenzione industriale n. 0001425753 del 09.11.2016