Abstract
Life on earth depends on water. However, there is scarcity of portable water supplies in South Africa especially in rural areas. This results to the consumption of untreated water that may be contaminated with microbial species such as Klebsiella . The aim of the study was to investigate Klebsiella contamination levels in water from the Modimola dam situated adjacent the Modimola village, in the North West Province, Mafikeng – South Africa. Nine water samples (three each) were collected from the upstream, middle-stream and down-stream of the dam. The samples were analyzed by plating on mFC and Eosin methylene blue agar plates. The blue isolates on mFC were counted and results recorded. The identities of metallic sheen colonies on EMBA were determined using Gram staining, preliminary (TSI and oxidase test) and confirmatory (API 20E, gapA specific PCR) tests. A total of 504 presumptive isolates were screened and 28 (35.9%) Klebsiella species were positively identified. Despite the fact that faecal coliform bacteria were not detected in tap water, the level of faecal contamination was higher in samples obtained from the upstream than the middle stream and; than the downstream. All water samples collected from the different sites of the Setumo dam contained Klebsiella species and this indicates the risk that water from this dam can pose threat to the inhabitants of the Modimola community who use the water for fishing and some daily activities.
Highlights
Bacteria that belong to the genus Klebsiella are facultative, anaerobic, non motile, Gram-negative rods that possess a prominent polysaccharide capsule (Umeh and Berkowitz, 2009)
Improper deposition of human faeces can lead to contamination of the soil with Klebsiella species Klebsiella pneumonia has been isolated from vegetables such as dried bush okra (Corchorus olitorius) and African spider herb (Cleome gynandra) (Mpuchane and Gashe, 1996)
The isolates ferment sugars glucose, lactose and fructose in the TSI medium producing a pattern that is characteristic for Klebsiella species (Forbes and Weissfeld, 1998)
Summary
Bacteria that belong to the genus Klebsiella are facultative, anaerobic, non motile, Gram-negative rods that possess a prominent polysaccharide capsule (Umeh and Berkowitz, 2009). Klebsiella species can cause severe infections that include meningitis, bronchitis, bacteremia, pneumonia, urinary tract infections in humans and animals (Lai et al, 2000; Boye and Hansen, 2003; Jonas et al, 2004; Trautmann et al, 2004; Casolari et al, 2005; Maroncle et al, 2006; Lau et al, 2007). In humans these infections are common in patients who are admitted in hospitals and those who are immunocompromised. Improper deposition of human faeces can lead to contamination of the soil with Klebsiella species Klebsiella pneumonia has been isolated from vegetables such as dried bush okra (Corchorus olitorius) and African spider herb (Cleome gynandra) (Mpuchane and Gashe, 1996)
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