A<unk>  (British:<unk>  is a facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped, gram-negative, non-sporulating bacterium.<unk>  bacteria generally originate in the intestines of warm-blooded animals.<unk> s are capable of growth in the presence of bile salts or similar surface agents, are oxidase negative, and produce acid and gas from lactose within 48 hours at 44 ± 0.5°C. The term "thermotolerant<unk> " is more correct and is gaining acceptance over<unk> ".<unk>  bacteria include genera that originate in feces (e.g. Escherichia) as well as genera not of<unk>  origin (e.g. Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Citrobacter). The assay is intended to be an indicator of<unk>  contamination; more specifically of E. coli which is an indicator microorganism for other pathogens that may be present in feces. Presence of<unk> s in water may not be directly harmful, and does not necessarily indicate the presence of feces.
Fecal coliform
Fecalith
Indicator bacteria
Stoccareddo
Human feces
Feces
Speculum 
Mycobiota