Growth Response of Salmonella Species and E. Coli to Different Metal Ions

Effect of different metal ions with their graded concentration on growth response of indicator organisms for faecal contamination and human pathogens of enteric fever was studied with individual and combined culture cultivation techniques. Both the test organisms were inhibited by almost all the metal ions analysed. However, it was surprisingly observed that the inhibitory effect by most of the metal ions was more significant against E. coli as compared to Salmonella species which indicated the possibility of confusion with respect to indicator organisms in monitoring the microbiological characteristics of water.