Characteristics of Klebsiella from textile finishing plant effluents

Klebsiella strains were found in abnormally high numbers in a stream receiving wastewater from a textile finishing plant. Densities as high as $1\times 10^{7}$ cells/ml were observed. Because this genus of the coliform group is used as an index of fecal pollution and because some of its members are recognized as opportunistic pathogens, representative strains were randomly selected to determine biochemical, serotype, and virulence patterns. All strains conformed to the commonly accepted biochemical reaction scheme for Klebsiella. Of the serotypable strains, about one-fourth were found to be types commonly associated with respiratory infections. Approximately 30 percent of the strains were pathogenic for mice. A comparison of biochemical and virulence patterns of Klebsiella isolated from plant effluents and human sources showed no appreciable differences.