Antimicrobial resistant coliform bacteria in the Gomti river water and determination of their tolerance level.

Asma Akhter,Mohd Imran,Firoz Akhter

doi:10.6026/97320630010167

Abstract

The distribution of resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, sulfonamides, tetracycline, and streptomycin among coliform in the Gomti river water samples was investigated. The coliform populations were isolated on Mac Conky and eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar plates supplemented with antibiotics. The incidence of resistance among the coliform population varied considerably in different drug and water sampling sites. Coliform bacteria showed lower drug resistant viable count in sampling site-III (receiving treated wastewater) as compared to more polluted site-I and site-II. Viable count of coliform population obtained on both medium was recorded higher against erythromycin from sampling site-III. Lower viable count of coliforms was recorded against tetracycline in site-II and III. Similar resistance pattern was obtained in the frequency of E. coli and Enterobacter species from all the three sampling sites. Percentage of antibiotic resistant E. coli was observed higher than Enterobacter spp among the total coliforms against all antibiotics tested without Erythromycin and penicillin in site-I and II respectively. Isolates of E. coli and Enterobacter spp. showed their tolerance level (MIC) in the range of 2-100 against the antibiotics tested. Maximum number of isolates of both genus exhibited their MICs at lower concentration range 2-5µg/ml against ciprofloxacin, tetracyclin and amoxycillin.AbbreviationsEMB - Eosin methylene blue, IMViC tests - Indole, Methyl Red, Voges Proskauer and Citrate Utilization Tests, MIC - Minimum inhibitory concentration.

Highlights

The occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the aquatic environment has been demonstrated in many studies as a consequence of uncontrolled discharges urban and animal wastewater [1,2]
During recent years, the distribution of antibiotic-resistant strains of Enterobacteriaceae in the aquatic environment like river and sewage waters, surface waters, sea water, and shellfish has been studied in different parts of the world
Surface waters, sea water, and shellfish have been investigated for the presence of antibiotic-resistant Enterobacteriaceae

Summary

Introduction

The occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in the aquatic environment has been demonstrated in many studies as a consequence of uncontrolled discharges urban and animal wastewater [1,2]. Antibiotics may be present at levels that could alter the ecology of the environment and give rise to antibiotic resistance [3]. Antibiotic resistance genes commonly transfer via conjugation or transformation. Horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes in the environment is one of the main reason contributing to the evolution and emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria and has been demonstrated in many studies [6]. As consequence of uncontrolled discharges of various waste products containing antibiotics and heavy metals, lakes and sewages are principle recipients of enteric bacteria encoding multiple antibiotic and ISSN 0973-2063 (online) 0973-8894 (print)

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