title: Enterobacteria identification and detection of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in a Port Complex.
abstract: The Port Complex of Maranhão (PCM) is the second largest port complex in Brazil, receiving ships with large volumes of ballast water. To evaluate the microbiological quality of its waters, physicochemical parameters (pH and salinity), the number of coliforms (thermotolerants and totals), and the presence of enterobacterias and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli strains were analyzed. In order to identify the presence of E. coli virulence genes target regions of the stx, elt, est, aggR, CVD432, ipaH and eae nucleotide sequences were studied. The presence of totals and thermotolerants coliforms were positive. Analyzing the salinity parameter, a significant increase in total coliforms was observed during the rainy season. We identified the species Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Citrobacter freundii, Proteus vulgaris, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Klebsiella ozaenae, Morganella morganii, Enterobacter cloacae and Edwardsiella tarda. Out of the 51 E. coli isolated, two were positive for the elt gene and one was positive for the CVD432 sequence, features of enterotoxigenic and enteroaggregative strains, respectively. This study reveals that the PCM is contaminated by enterobacteria and diarrheagenic E.coli thus providing evidence regarding the risk of these bacteria being carried by ships to other countries, and draws attention to the input of fecal bacteria brought by ships in the port waters of Maranhão.
authors.affiliation: Biodiversidade e Conservação Universidade Federal do Maranhão São LuísMA Brazil Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clarissa Frota Macatrão
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patologia Universidade Federal do Maranhão SãoLuísMA Brazil Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, SãoLuís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valério
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Monteiro Neto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Geologia Sedimentar Universidade Federal do Rio deJaneiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil Laboratório de Geologia Sedimentar, Universidade Federal do Rio deJaneiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Rafael de Carvalho
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Biodiversidade e Conservação Universidade Federal do Maranhão São LuísMA Brazil Biodiversidade e Conservação, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno Rafael Rabelo
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Ciências Biológicas Universidade Federal do Maranhão MA Brazil Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azevedo
authors.affiliation: Instituto Federal do Maranhão MA Brazil Instituto Federal do Maranhão, MA, Brazil.
authors.forename: Josilene Lima
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.affiliation: Programa Bionorte Universidade Federal do Amazonas Manaus Brazil Programa Bionorte, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil.
authors.forename: Hermínio Benítez Rabello
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Tecnologia Química Universidade Federal doMaranhão São Luís Brazil Departamento de Tecnologia Química, Universidade Federal doMaranhão, São Luís, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adenilde Ribeiro
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Geologia Sedimentar Universidade Federal do Rio deJaneiro Rio de Janeiro Brazil Laboratório de Geologia Sedimentar, Universidade Federal do Rio deJaneiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana Bonfim Pinto
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Genética e Biologia Molecular Departamento de Biologia Universidade Federal do Maranhão São Luís Brasil Laboratório de Genética e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Biologia, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, São Luís, Brasil.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kuppinger
mesh_terms: D058491:Bacterial Load; D001938:Brazil; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D054712:Salinity; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D014867:Water
keywords: Escherichia coli; ballast water; coliforms; enterobacterias; microbiological analysis