Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Surface Water in Bassaseachic Falls National Park, Mexico

Abstract

Bacterial pathogens are a leading cause of waterborne disease, and may result in gastrointestinal outbreaks worldwide. Inhabitants of the Bassaseachic Falls National Park in Chihuahua, Mexico show seasonal gastroenteritis problems. This aim of this study was to detect enteropathogenic microorganisms responsible for diarrheal outbreaks in this area. In 2013, 49 surface water samples from 13 selected sampling sites along the Basaseachi waterfall and its main rivers, were collected during the spring, summer, autumn, and winter seasons. Fecal and total coliform counts were determined using standard methods; the AutoScan-4 system was used for identification of isolates and the antibiotic resistance profile by challenging each organism using 21 antibiotics. Significant differences among seasons were detected, where autumn samples resulted in the highest total (p < 0.05) and fecal (p < 0.001) coliform counts, whereas the lowest total coliform counts were recorded in spring. Significant differences between sampling sites were observed, where samples from sites 6, 8, and 11 had the highest total coliform counts (p < 0.009), whereas samples from site 9 exhibited the lowest one. From the microbiological analysis, 33 bacterial isolates from 13 different sites and four sampling seasons were selected; 53% of isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and 15% exhibited a multidrug resistance (MDB) phenotype. MDB were identified as Klebsiella oxytoca (two out of four identified isolates), Escherichia coli (2/7), and Enterobacter cloacae (1/3). In addition, some water-borne microorganisms exhibited resistance to cefazoline, cefuroxime, ampicillin, and ampicillin-sulbactam. The presence of these microorganisms near rural settlements suggests that wastewater is the contamination source, providing one possible transmission mechanism for diarrheal outbreaks.

Depth and Well Type Related to Groundwater Microbiological Contamination

“…This result indicated that antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in water suggest the presence of pathogenic organisms that may spread infection among groundwater consumers [16], especially affecting children, the elderly, and immunocompromised people. Comparatively, other studies in surface water and wastewater treatment plants also detected the presence of microorganisms resistant to antibiotics [33,34]. Studies suggest that the selection of resistant microorganisms occurs because of human waste that is released into the natural environment, causing a serious ecological problem [33].…”

“…Comparatively, other studies in surface water and wastewater treatment plants also detected the presence of microorganisms resistant to antibiotics [33,34]. Studies suggest that the selection of resistant microorganisms occurs because of human waste that is released into the natural environment, causing a serious ecological problem [33]. …”

A Study on the Physicochemical and Bacteriological Analysis of Sewage Water from Coastal Karnataka, India

“…Due to these waterborne diseases, children under the age of 5 years are the severely affected leading to increased morbidity and mortality. 1 The sewage water consists of physical, chemical, and biological wastes which can be separated from water by various methods. The microbial flora of sewage water mainly comprises of bacteria, viruses, protozoa, algae, fungi, and helminths.…”

Antimicrobial‐Resistant E. coli from Surface Waters in Southwest Ontario Dairy Farms

“…The main sources of resistant bacteria and related resistance determinants in the aquatic environment include human and animal wastes, surface run-off from agricultural sites, leaching from sewage lagoons, and wildlife (Singer et al, 2016). Several studies have reported that surface waters around the world, including Canada, are contaminated with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (Ash et al, 2002;Ozgumus et al, 2007;Turgeon et al, 2011;Delgado-Gardea et al, 2016). The presence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli isolates carrying AMR genes such as extended-spectrum b-lactamase (ESBL) and fluoroquinolones resistance genes in surface waters and other aquatic environments are of particular concern because both b-lactam and fluoroquinolone classes are critically important antimicrobials in human medicine (Hu et al, 2008;Stoll et al, 2012;Jang et al, 2013;Coleman et al, 2013;Kamruzzaman et al, 2013;Müller et al, 2016;WHO, 2017).…”

“…In humans, approximately 1.7 billion cases of diarrhea (the second most common cause of death in children under 5 years of age) per year worldwide were reported due to the consumption of contaminated food and water (Baquero et al, 2008; Figueras and Borrego, 2010; Korzeniewska et al, 2013). Several studies reported that farm animals can become infected through the consumption of contaminated water; surface water is used as the main source of drinking water for animals only after treatment (Faith et al, 1996; Rice and Johnson, 2000; Shere et al, 2002). In Canada, only treated surface waters with <10 colony‐forming units of coliforms and zero E. coli per 100 mL are used to wash milking equipment on dairy farms because of risks of microbial contaminations (potential milk safety hazards) associated with the use of untreated surface water (Oliver et al, 2005; Perkins et al, 2009).…”