COMPARISON OF METHODS FOR ISOLATING CAMPYLOBACTER SPP FROM SEWAGE

Various Campylobacter isolation methodologies from wastewater samples have been tested. Considering the results obtained, an experimental me thod is suggested combining a filtration on a 0.45 mum membrane with a n enrichment in Preston's broth with 6 h at 42-degrees-C of incubation followed by an isolation on Preston's agar after a 48 hours incubatio n at 42-degrees-C in a microaerophilic atmosphere. This technique has been applied to 116 samples of raw wastewater taken from the Nancy tre atment plant. Campylobacter have been isolated in 43.9 % of the sample s. The species distribution was 94.1 % C. jejuni and 5.9 % C. coli.