Detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains in groundwater in the Yaoundé region (Cameroon, Central Africa). (29th August 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nola, Moïse; Nougang, Mireille E.; Noah Ewoti, Olive V.; Moungang, Luciane M.; Krier, François; Chihib, Nour‐Eddine
• Is Part Of: Water and environment journal. Volume 27:Number 3(2013)
• Page Start: 328
• Page End: 337
• Publication Date: 2012-08-29
• Subjects: Sewage -- Periodicals; Water-supply -- Periodicals; Environmental management -- Periodicals; Water-supply engineering -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Periodicals; 628.1
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-6593.2012.00349.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1747-6585

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of pathogenic <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> strains, relative to the total count of <italic>E. coli</italic>, faecal coliforms and other heterotrophic mesophilic aerobic bacteria (HMAB) isolated in groundwater in the equatorial region of Cameroon (Central Africa). Bacteria were isolated using standard methods. Pathogenic <italic>E. coli</italic> strains were then identified using haemagglutination and antisera tests. The maximum abundance of HMAB, faecal coliforms and <italic>E. coli</italic> strains were 4.9 × 10⁶, 5.6 × 10³ and 1 × 10³ colony‐forming units (CFU)/100 mL, respectively. The count of pathogenic <italic>E. coli</italic> strains reached 3 CFU/100 mL. The counts of commensal and pathogenic <italic>E. coli</italic> strains underwent temporal and spatial fluctuations. In 21% of sampling sites, the abundance of faecal coliforms was significantly correlated to that of <italic>E. coli</italic> (<italic>P</italic> &lt; 0.05). However, the isolated bacterial count was not significantly correlated to that of the pathogenic <italic>E. coli</italic> strains (<italic>P</italic> &gt; 0.05). The bacteria abundance dynamics may be impacted by many interacting factors.</p> </abstract>