E coli: (Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli 0157)
E Coli (short for Escherichia coli) is a harmless bacteria that is found in the intestines of humans and many
animals. For the most part the bacteria if completely harmless, but certain strains called VTECs can create
potent toxins which can lead to illness. The symptoms can vary from mild diarrhoea to bloody diarrhoea
(Haemorrhagic Colitis) and other severe illnesses that can result in kidney failure and even death. Age
plays an important factor in the strength of the illness with infants, young children and the elderly being at
risk of developing the more severe symptoms.

Campylobacter:
In Australia, Campylobacter is the most common cause of food poisoning[1] and is often the result
of consuming undercooked meat, unpasteurised milk or untreated water. Although it is rarely serious,
Campylobacter causes stomach pains and severe diarrhoea which can lead to dehydration.

Salmonella:
Salmonella is a bacteria often associated with undercooked food, especially with chicken. Salmonella is
generally associated with food poisoning which results in diarrhoea and stomach cramps and can also
cause vomiting and fever. Symptoms will usually end within seven days and are generally not serious, though severe food poisoning can lead to dehydration. Salmonella can be found in rivers and lakes and is known to survive on surfaces for extended periods of time.

Typhoid and Paratyphoid:
Typhoid fever is caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi and is a serious disease. It
causes a fever that can be life-threatening unless prompt treatment is received.
Typhoid generally results in a fever and headaches of various levels of severity with some victims
suffering from stomach cramps, nausea and rashes.
Paratyphoid is a similar disease but generally less severe. It is caused by the bacterium Salmonella
enterica serovar Paratyphi.

Shigellosis - Also known as bacillary dysentry:
Shigellosis is caused by the consumption of contaminated water. Anyone can catch bacillary dysentry, but
the disease is more common amongst young children than adults. Symptoms are generally limited to
diarrhoea, sometimes with blood or mucus.

Cholera:
Cholera is an extremely serious illness which can break out in regions with poor access to clean water,
poor sewage disposal systems and flood zones. Caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, Cholera causes
severe diarrhoea and vomiting with leg cramps being a characteristic of the disease. Cholera is life
threatening and in extreme cases can result in death in a matter of hours.

Hepatitus A:
Hepatitus A begins with fever, nausea and abdominal pain and leads on to jaundice after a few days. The
Virus generally effects adults more seriously than children but is rarely life threatening. Hepatitus A can be
caught several ways including drinking contaminated water.

Pathogens:
Cryptosporidium:
Cryptosporidiosis is one of the most widely known illnesses that can be contracted by the consumption of
untreated water. Like many Protazoa, cryptosporidium spores are cysts with hard shells which makes
them particularly difficult to kill with commercial disinfectants. There are several strains of cryptosporidium
but cryptosporidium Parvum is the one associated with the human disease.
Giadia Lamblia:
Another well known cause of traveller's illness is Giardi, which is a pathogen that causes diarrohoea and
abdominal cramps in humans. Giardia cysts are resistant to chlorine but are easlily removed by filtration
due to their large size.
Cyclospora:
Generally a food-borne disease found on imported foodstuffs, Cyclospora cayetanesis can also be
contracted by drinking untreated water. It causes prolonged, watery diarrhoea which can last uo to eight
week but is treatable. Cyclosporiasis is mostly know for a series of out breaks in the US related to imported fruit & veg.
Entamoeba Histolytica:
Entamoeba histolytica causes an illness called amoebiasis which results in mild diarrhoea. The illness can
occur in much more severe form called amoebic dysentery which causes blood and mucus in the faeces
and a fever. The illness can also invade the liver and cause an absess. Westerern infection of amoebic
dysentery is rare, but in developing countries with poor sanitation the disease is estimated to be
responsible for between 50,000 and 100,000 deaths every year.

Sources:
HPA http://www.hpa.org.uk/
CDC http://www.cdc.gov
NIAID http://www3.niaid.nih.gov
WHO http://www.who.int/en

[1] http://www.cdc.gov/eid/content/14/6/895.htm