Water Microbiology & Novel Technologies

Biography

Biography: Suma George Mulamattathil

Abstract

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify environmental bacteria from various water sources as well as water from the drinking water distributions system in Mafi keng to determine their antibiotic resistance profi les and presence virulence factors. Water samples from fi ve diff erent sites were collected and analyzed for the presence of fecal coliforms, total coliforms, heterotrophic plate count (HPC), Aeromonas and Pseudomonas species using selective media. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed using Kirby-Bauer disk diff usion method. Cluster analysis based on the antibiotic inhibition zone diameter data of diff erent organisms isolated from diff erent sites was determined and was expressed as dendograms using Wards algorithm and Euclidean distance of Statistical version 7. Specifi c PCR was used to determine the identities of presumptive Pseudomonas and Aeromonas species through amplifi cation of the gyrB, toxA and the ecfX gene fragments. Virulence gene determinants for the confi rmed Pseudomonas and Aeromonas species were detected by amplifying the exoA, exoS and exoT genes and the aerA and hylH gene fragments, respectively. Th e susceptibility of these isolates was tested against 11 antibiotics of clinical interest and the multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) patterns were compiled. Th e most prevalent antibiotic resistance phenotype observed was KF-AP-C-E-OT-K-TM-A. All isolates from all samples were susceptible to ciprofl oxacin. However, all fecal coliforms and Pseudomonas spp. were susceptible to neomycin and streptomycin. On the contrary all organisms tested were resistant to erythromycin (100%) trimethoprim and amoxycillin. Th e highest prevalence of antibiotic resistant isolates was observed in Modimola Dam and Molopo eye.