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Demonstration of bacteria of the coliform group from food and drink indicates the possibility of fecal contamination by pathogenic organism. Despite many reports available on contamination by coliform bacteria, demonstration of bacteria of coliform group does not definitely prove fresh fecal on human contamination, since no agreement is generally seen between the pattern of bacterial flora in feaces and that in the test materials in many reports. Therefore since E. coli is considered as occupying the top position of enterobacterial fiora it may be used as the bacterial indicator of contamination. We have studied the development of fecal contamination in vivo in a group of mice after excretion in terms of experimental epidemiology. One group of 5-10 mice were maintained in a single cage to follow the changes in their bacterial flora. Through comparison with the isolated organism, a mutual exchange of bacterial flora was demonstrated among the various mice, after contact for 3-6 days. Such exchange readily occurred with some bacteria but not in others. In order to clarify the mechanism of development of such contamination, Streptomycin (SM) was administered to mice to induce changes in the prevalence of resistant E. coli. When this animal was added to the group, transfer to only one mouse was noted during a course of 13 days. This was considered to indicate the importance of the environmental factors including the enterobacterial flora for the development of transfer. To the group of mice in which SM was administered to decrease the normal enterobacterial flora, one mouse with a fixed presence of 0-6 strain E. coli (resistant to SM, TC and CP) was added. Transfer of the bacteria was noted slowly from the third day on. During the 30 day period, the transfer occurred to most of the mice, assuming the type of so-called chain intection followed by a subsequent disappearance. In the present study, attempts were made to clarify the process of re-uptake of the excreted E. coli into the animal, or the mode of contamination among individual animals through an experimental epidemiologic approach, thereby establishing the position of E. coli as a possible index of fecal contamination.

Enterococci were present in all samples of liquid and frozen egg products examined. They survived spray drying and storage in egg powder better than the coliforms and Escherichia coli and are therefore considered a better index of fecal contamination. There was no relation between the occurrence of Salmonella organisms and the number of enterococci present. Streptococcus faecalis was the species most commonly found. The addition of 0.5% yeast extract to SF medium reduced the number of false negatives and improved the sensitivity, although confirmation on agar was still necessary. Winter and Sandholzer's medium, with bromocresol purple as indicator, could be used without confirmation but was not as sensitive for products containing small numbers of enterococci.

Bacteriological data collected from various field studies involving irrigation water, field crops, and soils were studied with respect to sources and magnitude of fecal contamination associated with cultivation, harvesting, and marketing of fruits and vegetables. Other reports concerned with contamination during agricultural activities were reviewed. Fecal coliform densities proved to be a better measurement of the probable occurrence of waterborne pathogens than any single test for a specific pathogenic group. When the fecal coliform density per 100 ml was above 1,000 organisms in various stream waters, Salmonella occurrence reached almost 100 per cent frequency. These data support the establishment of the proposed limit of 1,000 fecal coliforms per 100 ml of irrigation water, but approved sanitation practices must accompany (or supplement) use of this bacteriological standard. A concept of multiple safeguards to limit the public health hazard associated with poor quality irrigration water, irrigation farming practices, and market preparation of produce is discussed from the microbiological viewpoint.

The analysis of urine in order to identify errors of amino acid metabolism is now a widely employed procedure. Currently the most popular methods utilize urine samples and the technic of paper chromatography, with various modifications of the unidimensional and bidimensional systems originally described by Consden and associates. A handicap in these methods, however, is the frequent difficulty in obtaining urine specimens from neonates or young infants. This problem is especially acute when large numbers of these infants are tested in a screening program. To obviate this, the urine screening program for metabolic disorders currently being conducted in Massachusetts, by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health in a cooperative project with the Massachusetts General Hospital, utilizes a method of urine collection that involves placing a 5by 2.5-cm. strip of Whatman No. 3MM filter paper* inside the diaper. The urine-impregnated strip is then analyzed by unidimensional paper chromatography according to the technic of Efron and colleagues. Since the inception of the urine screening program, an occasional specimen has revealed an increased quantity of many of the amino acids normally present in urine, as well as an increased quantity of the imino acid, proline, but not of hydroxyproline. Repeat specimens from infants with this amino and imino acid pattern have invariably yielded normal chromatograms, and inspection of the original filter papers has

Trials were conducted to determine feed and water withdrawal times for broilers prior to slaughter which would result in lowest loss in eviscerated yield and lessen potential for fecal contamination of carcasses. Percent loss in live weight expressed as shrink showed a linear relationship with time. Loss at the twenty-four hour period was approximately double that at the twelfth hour. Eviscerated yield when based on initial weight showed a tendency for loss in yield with increasing withdrawal time whereas the opposite trend was shown when yield was based on weight at time of slaughter. Least differences were noted from the eighth to tenth hour of holding. Fecal contents were lowest at the eighth to tenth hour of withdrawal. This would be conducive to a lessened possibility for fecal contamination. The data points out the need for more precise scheduling of withdrawal and holding period prior to slaughter to reduce losses due to yields and fecal contamination of carcasses.

A case of a spontaneously occurring rectal-subarachnoid fistula with gross fecal contamination of the spinal fluid is reported. Pathologic examination suggested that lymphogranuloma venereum was the underlying disease responsible for this bizarre occurrence.

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