title: Microbiological quality of water from the rivers of Curitiba, Paraná State, Brazil, and the susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs and pathogenicity of Escherichia coli.
abstract: Water safety is determined by several markers, and Escherichia coli is one of the most important indicators of water quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological parameters in environmental samples of fresh water from rivers of Curitiba and its metropolitan area in Paraná State, Brazil. In addition, we evaluated the pathogenicity and susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs in E. coli. These evaluations were performed by quantitative and qualitative methods employing selective media for isolating thermotolerant coliforms and biochemical tests for identifying E. coli. Pathogenic strains of E. coli were detected by PCR multiplex using specific primers. From the water samples, 494 thermotolerant coliforms were obtained, of which 96 (19.43%) isolates were characterized as E. coli. Three isolates were identified as enteroaggregative E. coli, one as enterotoxigenic E. coli, one as enteropathogenic E. coli, and two carried the Eae virulence gene. E. coli susceptibility to commonly employed antimicrobial drugs was analyzed by the disc diffusion method. The results showed 49 (51.04%) isolates resistant to all the drugs assayed, 16 (16.67%) with an intermediate resistance to all drugs, and 31 (32.29%) intermediately or fully resistant to one or more drugs tested. The highest rate of resistance was observed for tetracycline 30 μg, streptomycin 10 μg, and ceftazidime 30 μg. Detection of E. coli is associated with water contamination by fecal material from humans and warm-blooded animals. The occurrence of resistant strains can be the result of the indiscriminate use of antimicrobial drugs and poor sanitation in the areas assayed.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Microbiologia e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Patologia Básica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico s/n, Jardim das Américas, Caixa Postal 19031, Curitiba, PR, 81531990, Brazil.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giowanella
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Microbiologia e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Patologia Básica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico s/n, Jardim das Américas, Caixa Postal 19031, Curitiba, PR, 81531990, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bozza
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Microbiologia e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Patologia Básica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico s/n, Jardim das Américas, Caixa Postal 19031, Curitiba, PR, 81531990, Brazil. pdalzoto@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: do Rocio Dalzoto
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Biologia do Solo, Departamento de Solos e Engenharia Agrícola, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jair Alves
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dionísio
authors.affiliation: Instituto Ambiental do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sumaia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Andraus
authors.affiliation: Instituto Ambiental do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Edson Luiz Gomes
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Microbiologia e Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Patologia Básica, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Centro Politécnico s/n, Jardim das Américas, Caixa Postal 19031, Curitiba, PR, 81531990, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ida Chapaval
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Pimentel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000633:toxicity; D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D045483:Rivers / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence; D014867:Water; D014876:Water Pollution / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D014867:Water
keywords: Antibiotic resistance; Coliforms; Monitoring; Water quality