> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://guidelines.nhmrc.gov.au/australian-drinking-water-guidelines/part-2/chapter-5/5.4-enteric-pathogens/5.4.1-enteric-pathogens-of-concern-in-drinking-water.md).

# 5.4.1 Enteric pathogens of concern in drinking water

Principal enteric pathogens of concern in drinking water are summarised in Table 5.1. More details and references are included in the Fact Sheets in Part V. Only enteric pathogens with existing fact sheets in Part V are included in the table.

### Table 5.1 Enteric pathogens of concern in Australian drinking water <a href="#table-5-1" id="table-5-1"></a>

| Group                                   | Disease                                                                                                                                   | Important hosts                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| --------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Bacteria**                            |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| *Campylobacter jejuni* and *C. coli*    | Acute gastroenteritis in most cases but can cause long-term complications e.g. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Guillain-Barré syndrome | Humans and both wild and domesticated animals                                                                                                                                                                      |
| *Salmonella* spp.                       | Acute gastroenteritis in most cases but can cause long-term complications e.g. reactive arthritis                                         | Humans and both wild and domesticated animals                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Pathogenic *E. coli*                    | Gastroenteritis, haemorrhagic colitis e.g. Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome (HUS)                                                                | Humans and both wild and domesticated animals                                                                                                                                                                      |
| *Shigella* spp.                         | Gastroenteritis, haemorrhagic colitis                                                                                                     | Humans                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| **Viruses**                             |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Adenoviruses                            | Gastroenteritis, acute respiratory diseases and conjunctivitis                                                                            | Humans                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Enteroviruses                           | Mild febrile illness, myocarditis, meningoencephalitis, poliomyelitis, hand-foot-and-mouth                                                | Humans                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Norovirus                               | Gastroenteritis                                                                                                                           | Humans                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Rotavirus                               | Gastroenteritis                                                                                                                           | Humans                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Enteric hepatitis viruses (hepatitis A) | Infectious hepatitis                                                                                                                      | Humans                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| **Protozoa**                            |                                                                                                                                           |                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| *Cryptosporidium* spp.                  | Gastroenteritis                                                                                                                           | Most outbreaks associated with humans and livestock, but can also include close contact with wild animals                                                                                                          |
| *Giardia* spp.                          | Gastroenteritis                                                                                                                           | Most outbreaks associated with humans, but can also include animals                                                                                                                                                |
| *Cyclospora* spp.                       | Gastroenteritis                                                                                                                           | Humans (possible transmission via water and vegetables in developing countries, but no outbreaks recorded in Australia – e.g. cruise ship outbreak likely related to fresh food taken on board in South East Asia) |