Abstract
Indiscriminate and unguided discharge of untreated wastewater especially from abattoirs can constitute a public health threat and also stimulate the onset of co-resistance to metal and antibiotics in environmental microorganisms. It has been shown that microorganisms especially bacteria that have the capacity to resist antibiotics and heavy metals, may constitute a public health threat. This study was therefore conducted to determine the susceptibility and tolerance profile of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from abattoir effluent flowing into a receiving river around Bodija market in Ibadan to a range of antibiotics and heavy metals. Ten points were selected for sampling, and the samples were cultured on nutrient agar and mannitol salt agar. A total of 22 Staphylococcus aureus strains were obtained. They were subjected to increasing concentration of six heavy metals [lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni)] and five antibiotics. Of the total isolates, 41% were resistant to all the six metals at 1500μg/ml concentration, while the others showed various degree of resistance. A percentage resistance of 22.7% was observed for tetracycline, 100% to ceftazidime, 9.1% to ciprofloxacin and vancomycin while 63.6% of the strains were resistant to oxacillin. All the strains but two showed resistance to all the metals tested, while multiple resistance to antibiotics was also observed. Further studies need to be carried out on the mechanisms of resistance of these strains.
Highlights
Abattoir in the developing countries of the world may serve as public health threat due to the unsanitary practices and unwholesome discharge of their waste and wastewater into the environment
It has been reported that the discharge of untreated abattoir wastewater into drainage channel have led to the contamination of groundwater with faecal bacteria [3]
A total of twenty-two (22) Staphylococcus aureus strains showing different level of resistance to the six metals employed in this study were obtained
Summary
Abattoir in the developing countries of the world may serve as public health threat due to the unsanitary practices and unwholesome discharge of their waste and wastewater into the environment. Discharge of waste and wastewater into water surfaces is a common way of contaminating drinking water as such discharge can contain a significant level of bacterial pathogens. It has been reported that the discharge of untreated abattoir wastewater into drainage channel have led to the contamination of groundwater with faecal bacteria [3]. A number of bacteria and fungi pathogens which might be a public threat by migrating into the groundwater have been reported to have been isolated from wastewater from abattoirs and surface water; these pathogens include: Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Streptococcus spp., Salmonella spp., Aspergillus spp., Mucor spp., Saccharomyces spp. and Penicillium spp. A number of bacteria and fungi pathogens which might be a public threat by migrating into the groundwater have been reported to have been isolated from wastewater from abattoirs and surface water; these pathogens include: Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Streptococcus spp., Salmonella spp., Aspergillus spp., Mucor spp., Saccharomyces spp. and Penicillium spp. [4] [5]
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