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Volume 2 Journal of Environmental Research
Page 82
JOINT EVENT
July 26-27, 2018 Rome, Italy
&
6th Edition of International Conference on Water Pollution & Sewage Management
4th International Conference on Pollution Control & Sustainable Environment
Pathogenic Escherichia coli strains recovered from selected aquatic resources in the Eastern Cape,
SouthAfrica and its significance to public health
Kingsley Ehi Ebomah, Martins Adefisoye and Anthony Okoh
University of Fort Hare, South Africa
The prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms as well as the proliferation of antimicrobial resistance is significant to public
health, but the magnitude of impact of aquatic environs concerning the advent and propagation of resistance genes remains
vague. Escherichia coli are widespread and encompass variety of strains ranging from non-pathogenic to highly pathogenic.
This study reports on the incidence and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of E. coli strains recovered from the Nahoon beach and
its canal waters in South Africa. A total of 73 out of 107 (68.2%) PCR-confirmed E. coli isolates were affirmative for at least one
virulence factor these comprised enteropathogenic E. coli 11 (10.3%), enteroinvasive E. coli 14 (13.1%) and neonatal meningitis
E. coli 48 (44.9%). The phenotypic antibiogram profiles of the confirmed isolates revealed that all 73 (100%) were resistant to
ampicillin, whereas 67 (91.8%) of the pathotypes were resistant to amikacin, gentamicin and ceftazidime. About 61 (83.6%)
and 51 (69.9%) were resistant to tetracycline and ciprofloxacin respectively. About 21.9% (16) demonstrated multiple antibiotic
resistances with 100% exhibiting resistance to eight antibiotics. We conclude that the Nahoon beach and the canal waters are
reservoirs of potentially virulent and antibiotic resistant E. coli strains thus, constitute a public health risk.
J Environ Res 2018, Volume: 2