ASSOCIATION OF AEROMONAS-CAVIAE WITH SEWAGE POLLUTION

Aeromonas species were recovered from three rivers viz. Indus, Yamuna and Gomati over a period of 1-12 months. Around 94 ground water source s were also included in the study. Higher number of A.hydrophila (65.6 %) were recovered from unpolluted waters of river Indus. In plains, si gnificant number of A.caviae (30-40%) were recovered from polluted wat ers of rivers Yamuna and Gomati. In ground water sources polluted with sewage, A.caviae formed 37-68% of total aeromonads recovered. The fin dings indicate that A.caviae is a dominant species in waters contamina ted by sewaqe and wastewater and thus potential indicator of sewage po llution.