F-SPECIFIC BACTERIOPHAGE AS AN INDICATOR OF HUMAN VIRUSES IN NATURAL-WATERS AND SEWAGE EFFLUENTS IN NORTHERN NEW-ZEALAND

To assess the F-specific bacteriophage as an indicator of pathogenic viruses, a comparative study has been rr;ade of the occurrence of F-phage and human enteroviruses in sewage wastes and the marine environment. Although F-phage seemed in several respects to match pathogen behaviour, its low abundance in bathing beach water, uncertainty as to its source and other detection irregularities make its use as an indicator problematical.