Journal of Microbial & Biochemical Technology

Isolation of environmental bacteria from surface and drinking water in Mafikeng, South Africa and characterization using their antibiotic resistance profiles

International Conference and Expo on Water Microbiology & Novel Technologies

July 18-19, 2016 Chicago, USA

Suma George Mulamattathil

University of Limpopo, South Africa

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Microb Biochem Technol

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 Mafikeng to determine their antibiotic resistance profiles and presence virulence factors. Water samples from five different 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 diffusion method. Cluster analysis based on the antibiotic inhibition zone diameter data of different organisms isolated from different sites was determined and was expressed as dendograms using Wards algorithm and Euclidean distance of Statistical version 7. Specific PCR was used to determine the identities of presumptive Pseudomonas and Aeromonas species through amplification of the gyrB, toxA and the ecfX gene fragments. Virulence gene determinants for the confirmed Pseudomonas and Aeromonas species were detected by amplifying the exoA, exoS and exoT genes and the aerA and hylH gene fragments, respectively. The susceptibility of these isolates was tested against 11 antibiotics of clinical interest and the multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) patterns were compiled. The most prevalent antibiotic resistance phenotype observed was KF-AP-C-E-OT-K-TM-A. All isolates from all samples were susceptible to ciprofloxacin. 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. The highest prevalence of antibiotic resistant isolates was observed in Modimola Dam and Molopo eye.

Biography :

Suma George Mulamattathil has completed her PhD from North West University in South Africa. Presently she is working as a Senior Lecturer in University of Limpopo, South Africa. She has published four papers and all of them deal with the antibiotic resistance of bacterial isolates from water.

Email: Suma.Mulamattathil@ul.ac.za