A Study of the Longevity of f2 Bacteriophage in Marine and Fresh Water Sewage Effluent, and Its Use as a Biological Indicator of Pollution

The significance of the transmission of animal viruses in sewage
polluted fresh and marine waters becomes an increasingly important
factor as more and more evidence is presented to support the fact
that in the case of many viral types one virus particle constitutes
an infective dose. Therefore it is very important that a method of
determining the extent of viral pollution in sewage polluted bodies
of marine and fresh water be found.
The longevity of f2 bacteriophage in both marine and fresh water
sewage polluted samples was determined, and shown to be 3 to 4 days
for marine water and 8 days for fresh water. It was also shown
that the culture medium in which the f2 phage was produced, and the
larger macromolecular polymers commonly found associated with sewage
had a favorable affect in increasing the longevity of f2 phage.
It was shown that f2 bacteriophage could be used to follow the
initial dispersion of the sewage boil arising from an ocean outfall
sewerage system. From these results it was concluded that f2
bacteriophage could be used for more detailed studies concerned
with the transmission of viruses in sewage polluted waters.