Detection and antibiotic susceptibility of pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from the final effluent of two wastewater treatment Plants in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
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Date
2017-07-24
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BioRxiv
Abstract
Wastewater is an important reservoir for Escherichia coli and can present significant acute
toxicity if released into receiving water sources without being adequately treated. To analyze
whether pathogenic E. coli strains that cause infections are in treated effluent and to recognize
antibiotic profile. 476 confirmed isolates from two treatment Plants were characterized for the
presence of various E. coli pathotypes. A total of 8 pathotypes were screened and only four were
confirmed. UPEC was about 5.7% followed by EAEC at 2.3%, NMEC at 1.1% and EPEC at
0.6%. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of E. coli pathotypes such as UPEC showed low
resistance to antibiotics like meropenem (100%), cefotaxime (100%) and gentamicin (88.9%).
The pathotype also showed high degrees of resistance to tetracycline (74.1%), ampicillin
(74.1%) and cephalothin (66.7%). Other E. coli pathotypes, EAEC, NMEC and EPEC, showed
high sensitivity (100%) to meropenem, gentamicin and cefotaxime, and varying degree of
resistances to ampicillin, tetracycline and cephalothin. The results of this study reveal that the
two Plants discharge effluents with pathogenic E. coli and are reservoir for the bacteria into
receiving water sources. In summary, this finding raises the possibility that at least some
pathogenic E. coli pathotypes are getting into the environment through WWTPs and represent
potential route for enteropathogenic infection. In addition, certain pathotypes may have acquired
resistance properties, becoming a potential cause of drug resistance infection. This study reveals
inadequacy of the plants studied to produce effluents of acceptable quality
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Keywords
Antibiotics,, UPEC,, EAEC,, EPEC,, NMEC,, Wastewater,, E. coli,, South Africa