ABSTRACT
For the purpose of ascertaining the amount of pollution reaching the large salt lagoon in Valencia from its Northwest side, 19 river-beds flowing into it have been studied. For each sample, the presence of markers indicating fecal pollution and the presence or absence of pathogens; Salmonella, Vibrio cholerae and Shigella have been evaluated. For each river-bed, a Fecal Pollution Index has been calculated, this Index revealing a positive correlation (p = 0.03) with the isolating of Salmonella. Salmonella has been isolated in 16 of the 19 river-beds (84.2%) 86 strains pertaining to 21 different serotypes having been analyzed using biochemical and serological methods. The ones most frequently were: S. bredeney (12.8%), S. tilburg (11.6%), S. virchow (8.1%), S. london (8.1%), S. group B (8.1%), and S. enteritidis, found infrequently (4.7%). We did not isolate S. typhi, S. paratyphi or S. typhimurium.
