Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about microbiology:

What are some of the harmful microorganisms that can be found in water?  Visit the question library and FAQ from LennTech, http://www.lenntech.com/water-microbiology-FAQ.htm. 

The first table lists the various bacteria that can be found in surface water and the diseases they cause when swallowed in large amounts, along with the symptoms.  The second table lists various waterborne protozoa.

Water systems protect you from these microorganisms by providing disinfection, monitoring and testing.

Bacteria	Disease/ infection	Symptoms
Aeromonas	Enteritis	Very thin, blood and mucus containing diarrhea
Campylobacter jejuni	Campilobacteriose	Flu, diarrhea, head and stomachaches, fever, cramps and nausea
Escherichia coli	Urinary tract infections, neonatal meningitis, intestinal disease	Watery diarrhea, headaches, fever, homiletic uraemia, kidney damage
Plesiomonas shigelloides	Plesiomonas-infection	Nausea, stomachaches and watery diarrhea, sometimes fevers, headaches and vomiting
Salmonella	Typhoid fever	Fevers
	Salmonellosis	Sickness, intestinal cramps, vomiting, diarrhea and sometimes light fevers
Streptococcus	(Gastro) intestinal disease	Stomachaches, diarrhea and fevers, sometimes vomiting
Vibrio El Tor (freshwater)	(Light form of) Cholera	Heavy diarrhea

Because of their parasitic nature, protozoa can cause various diseases. In this table, the various waterborne protozoa are listed and the diseases they cause when swallowed in large amounts, along with the symptoms.

Microorganism	Disease	Symptoms
Amoeba	Amoebic dysentery	Severe diarrhea, headache, abdominal pain, chills, fever; if not treated can cause liver abscess, bowel perforation and death
Cryptosporidium parvum	Cryptosporidiosis	Feeling of sickness, watery diarrhea, vomiting, lack of appetite
Giardia	Giardiasis	Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, flatulence, belching, fatigue
Toxoplasm gondii	Toxoplasmosis	Flu, swelling of lymph glands With pregnant women subtle abortion and brain infections

For more information about microbiology and testing, contact:

Rita Wright
Morehead State University
150 4th St. & Ashland Ave.
Morehead, KY 40351
Phone: 606-783-2961
Fax: 606-783-5045
E-mail: r.wright@moreheadstate.edu