Abundance of Pathogenic Escherichia coli Virulence-Associated Genes in Well and Borehole Water Used for Domestic Purposes in a Peri-Urban Community of South Africa.
In the absence of pipe-borne water, many people in Africa, especially in rural communities, depend on alternative water sources such as wells, boreholes and rivers for household and personal hygiene. Poor maintenance and nearby pit latrines, however, lead to microbial pollution of these sources. We evaluated the abundance ofEscherichia coliand the prevalence of pathogenicE. colivirulence genes in water from wells, boreholes and a river in a South African peri-urban community. Monthly samples were collected between August 2015 and November 2016. In all, 144 water samples were analysed forE. coliusing the Colilert 18 system. Virulence genes (eagg,eaeA,stx1,stx2,flichH7,ST,ipaH,ibeA) were investigated using real-time polymerase chain reaction. MeanE. colicounts ranged between 0 and 443.1 Most Probable Number (MPN)/100 mL of water sample. Overall, 99.3% of samples were positive for at least one virulence gene studied, withflicH7being the most detected gene (81/140; 57.6%) and thestx2gene the least detected gene (8/140; 5.7%). Both intestinal and extraintestinal pathogenicE. coligenes were detected. The detection of virulence genes in these water sources suggests the presence of potentially pathogenicE. colistrains and is a public health concern.
Departments of Biotechnology, Vaal University of Technology, Private Bag X021, Andries Potgieter Blvd, Vanderbijlpark 1911, South Africa. lutherkinga@yahoo.fr.
Akebe Luther King
AL
Abia
Natural Resources and the Environment, CSIR, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. lschaefer@csir.co.za.
Lisa
L
Schaefer
Natural Resources and the Environment, CSIR, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. eubombajaswa@csir.co.za.
Eunice
E
Ubomba-Jaswa
Natural Resources and the Environment, CSIR, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. wleroux@csir.co.za.
Wouter
W
Le Roux
D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D045483:Rivers / Q000382:microbiology; D013019:South Africa; D014504:Urban Health; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D060753:Water Quality; D060986:Water Wells
D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005819:Genetic Markers; D037521:Virulence Factors
boreholes; microbial quality; pathogenic Escherichia coli; public health; virulence genes; wells