Escherichia coli with virulence factors and multidrug resistance in the Plankenburg River
Date
2014
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academy of Science of South Africa
Abstract
Escherichia coli is a natural inhabitant of the gut and E. coli levels in water are considered internationally
to be an indication of faecal contamination. Although not usually pathogenic, E. coli has been linked to
numerous foodborne disease outbreaks, especially those associated with fresh produce. One of the most
common ways through which E. coli can be transferred onto fresh produce is if contaminated water is used
for irrigation. In this study, a total of 81 confirmed E. coli strains were isolated from the Plankenburg River
as part of three separate studies over 3 years. During sampling, E. coli levels in the river were above the
accepted levels set by the World Health Organization and the South African Department of Water Affairs
and Forestry for safe irrigation of fresh produce, which indicates that transfer of E. coli during irrigation is
highly probable. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction screening for pathogenic gene sequences revealed
one enteroaggregative positive strain and four enteropathogenic positive strains. The four enteropathogenic
strains were also found to be resistant to three or more critically and highly important antibiotics and were
therefore classified as multidrug resistant strains. These results show that E. coli with enteropathogenic
potential and multiple antimicrobial resistance properties has persisted over time in the Plankenburg River.
Description
CITATION: Lamprecht, C., et al. 2014. Escherichia coli with virulence factors and multidrug resistance in the Plankenburg River. South African Journal of Science, 110(9-10): 1-6, doi: 10.1590/ sajs.2014/20130347.
The original publication is available at http://www.sajs.co.za
The original publication is available at http://www.sajs.co.za
Keywords
Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Stellenbosch, Water -- Pollution -- South Africa -- Stellenbosch, Plankenburg River (South Africa), Enterobacteriaceae -- South Africa -- Stellenbosch, Enterococcal infections, Drug resistance in microorganisms, Foodborne diseases -- South Africa -- Stellenbosch
Citation
Lamprecht, C., et al. 2014. Escherichia coli with virulence factors and multidrug resistance in the Plankenburg River. South African Journal of Science, 110(9-10): 1-6, doi: 10.1590/ sajs.2014/20130347