Journal of Environmental Research

Pathogenic Escherichia coli strains recovered from selected aquatic resources in the Eastern Cape, South Africa and its significance to public health

Joint Event on 4^th International Conference on Pollution Control & Sustainable Environment & 6^th Edition of International Conference on Water Pollution & Sewage Management
July 26-27, 2018 Rome, Italy

Kingsley Ehi Ebomah, Martins Adefisoye and Anthony Okoh

University of Fort Hare, South Africa

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Environ Res

Abstract

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.