Pathogenic bacteria and parasites of human importance from cow dung

Abstract

Cow dung is used commonly in rural and periurban households in India for many purposes like for cooking and mopping floors. However it can contain many pathogenic bacteria and parasites like Escherichia coli, Cryptosporidium spp. and Entamoeba histolytica that can be infectious to the handlers and farmers. Hence one should be very careful while handling these. Thus a study of pathogenic microbial flora in cow dung is of utmost public health importance in our country and very little literature is available regard it. Hence, we here have tried to summarize available information in this aspect.