| Abstract: | The Campylobacter jejuni survival pattern was investigated in model experiments using drinking water and surface waters differing in organic contamination. Further conditions studied were two different temperature levels (4 °C and 20 °C, resp.) as well as several starting densities of the testing strain. In drinking water, i.e. relatively uncontaminated water, the starting density showed a direct influence on the interval of surviving. The same was noted for temperature, where higher levels (20 °C) resulted in a relative quick inactivation of the investigated agent. Mentioned influences played a similar role in the surface water medium, together with the level of organic contamination: An increase of the value of COD to about 15.4 mg/l O2 halved the interval of surviving. No relation to the dissolved oxygen tension was found. |
