Fecal Enterococci Research Articles

Challenges associated with access to safe water in Rhino Camp refugee settlement in Arua District, Uganda

ABSTRACT The study evaluated water access and disease prevalence in the Rhino Camp refugee settlement by mapping water sources, interviewing residents, and reviewing health centre records. Primary water sources were tanks providing 10.2 litres per person per day (l/p/d). Microbial contamination including total coliforms reaching 2.8 × 104 cfu/ml (household container – Tika), thermotolerant coliforms, and faecal enterococci were observed throughout the water supply chain, suggesting faecal contamination and posing a health risk. We attributed this to poor handling and storage related to poor sanitation in the settlement, highlighting the importance of promoting hygiene practices among refugees, particularly in the Ofua Zone, which had the highest contamination risks and the highest sanitary risk scores. Malaria and typhoid were the most prevalent diseases, with Ofua having the highest disease incidence. Water collection was mostly done by adult females and female children (34.7 and 30.3%, respectively) although water collection was generally low (<4 times a day). Boiling water was associated (p < 0.05) with the incidence of hepatitis A in Ofua. Adequate water (>20 l/p/d), water treatment, and education on hygiene practices especially for adult females are essential in lowering contamination and the incidence of diseases.

Assessment of the Bacteriological Quality of Drilling Water in the 8th District of the City of N'Djamena (Chad)

Study is to evaluate the bacteriological quality of borehole water consumed by residents of the 8th district of the city of N'Djamena. Twenty (20) samples were taken and sent to the National Water Laboratory for the research of microbiological parameters. Four microbiological parameters were evaluated: Total coliforms, Escherichia coli, Fecal enterococcus and Salmonella spp. The technique used for this analysis is spreading and membrane filtration. The average values obtained in the samples are 0.338 10 4 CFU/100 ml for total coliforms, 0.319 10 3 CFU/100 ml for Escherichia coli, 33.33 CFU/100 ml for fecal Enterococcus and 1.385 10 4 CFU/100 ml Salmonella spp . The results of these analyses, considering the tolerance threshold set by the drinking water standards in Chad, showed that these averages largely exceed the recommended standards for drinking water. These waters must be treated and the environments of water points improved for consumption without impact.

Seasonal assessment of surface water and sediments pollution in Rachiine River, Northern Lebanon, using multivariate statistical analysis

Urbanization has caused severe negative impacts on intra-urban river water worldwide. In this study, the WHO drinking water standards (2024) were used as reference to assess the physicochemical properties, heavy metals (HMs) content and microbial load in water and sediment samples collected from 25 locations along Rachiine River, located in Northern Lebanon, during wet and dry periods. Multivariate statistical analysis was applied to evaluate the seasonal variations in water and sediment quality, and determine the pollution sources. The microbial load assessment indicated high pollution levels by Escherichia coli, fecal enterococci, total coliform and fecal coliform, which generally increased as the river progressed downstream. Cluster analysis (CA) provided three major clusters in the study region, representing the northern, central, and southern sectors of the river. Principal components analysis (PCA) of water samples generated four principal components (PCs) accounting for 64.3, 11.4, 7.6 and 4.1 % of the total variance, whereas PCA of sediment samples explained 59.1, 16.9 and 11.1 % of the data set variance. These PCs revealed that the quality of water and sediments is significantly impacted by point and diffuse sources, including geological and anthropogenic factors. These findings call for urgent management strategies to limit future deterioration of the aquatic bodies.

268 Assessment of antimicrobial exposure on generic Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. concentration, prevalence, and resistance to antimicrobials in beef cattle raised with or without antimicrobials

Abstract To investigate the effects of antimicrobial exposure, Angus steers [n = 288; initial body weight (BW) = 314 and 300 kg) were sorted into 1 of 2 treatments over 2 consecutive years: steers raised without antimicrobials (NAT) and conventionally raised steers exposed to antimicrobials (CONV). Pens within treatment were adjacent and separated via empty pens from the other treatment. Before cattle arrival, pens were renovated, and soil was replaced from an area not subjected to livestock production. Monensin and tylosin were included in CONV steer diets targeting 250 and 85 mg/steer daily, respectively. On d 123, CONV steers received a metaphylactic antimicrobial; NAT steers received a sterile saline injection. From d 0 to 168, diet and rectal fecal samples were collected longitudinally at 5 timepoints to determine E. coli and Enterococcus spp. concentration, prevalence, and resistance patterns. The MIXED procedure of SAS was used with fixed effects of treatment, day, and treatment × day interaction, and random effect of pen nested within a treatment × year interaction. Feed E. coli and Enterococcus spp. concentrations were greater in NAT diets than CONV diets (P < 0.01). Erythromycin (8ERYR; 128ERYR), tetracycline (TETR), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (COTR), and cefotaxime (CTXR) resistant E. coli concentrations and prevalence were greater in NAT diets than CONV diets (P < 0.02). Fecal E. coli concentrations tended to be greater in NAT steers than CON steers (P = 0.07). A treatment × day tendency was detected for 8ERYRE. coli concentrations (P = 0.06), with NAT steers tending to have greater concentrations on d 64 and 130. Conversely, CONV steers had greater 128ERYRE. coli concentrations on d 130 and 168 than NAT steers (P < 0.01). Fecal TETRE. coli concentrations were greater in CONV steers than NAT steers (P = 0.03). Fecal COTR and CTXRE. coli prevalence had a treatment × day interaction (P < 0.01), with CONV steers having greater prevalence at the beginning of the finishing phase (d 0). Conversely, NAT steers had greater COTR (d 123 and 130) and CTXR (d 130 and 168) E. coli prevalence towards the end of the finishing phase than CONV steers. Fecal Enterococcus spp. concentrations did not differ between treatments (P = 0.11). A treatment × day interaction was detected for 8ERYR and 128ERYREnterococcus spp. concentrations (P < 0.05), with CONV steers having greater concentrations on d 64, 130, and 168 than NAT steers. Overall, these data suggest that antimicrobial exposure does not inherently increase E. coli and Enterococcus spp. concentrations. Treatment differences observed for ERYREnterococcus spp. concentrations are likely a result of tylosin exposure whereas differences in 128ERYR and TETRE. coli concentrations are likely an effect of metaphylactic administration. USDA is an equal opportunity employer.

Chlorophyllin Supplementation of Medicated or Unmedicated Swine Diets Impact on Fecal Escherichia coli and Enterococci.

Considering that certain catabolic products of anaerobic chlorophyll degradation inhibit efflux pump activity, this study was conducted to test if feeding pigs a water-soluble chlorophyllin product could affect the antibiotic resistance profiles of select wild-type populations of fecal bacteria. Trial 1 evaluated the effects of chlorophyllin supplementation (300 mg/meal) on fecal E. coli and enterococcal populations in pigs fed twice daily diets supplemented without or with ASP 250 (containing chlortetracycline, sulfamethazine and penicillin at 100, 100 and 50 g/ton, respectively). Trial 2, conducted similarly, evaluated chlorophyllin supplementation in pigs fed diets supplemented with or without 100 g tylosin/ton. Each trial lasted 12 days, and fecal samples were collected and selectively cultured at 4-day intervals to enumerate the total numbers of E. coli and enterococci as well as populations of these bacteria phenotypically capable of growing in the presence of the fed antibiotics. Performance results from both studies revealed no adverse effect (p > 0.05) of chlorophyllin, antibiotic or their combined supplementation on average daily feed intake or average daily gain, although the daily fed intake tended to be lower (p = 0.053) for pigs fed diets supplemented with tylosin than those fed diets without tylosin. The results from trial 1 showed that the ASP 250-medicated diets, whether without or with chlorophyllin supplementation, supported higher (p < 0.05) fecal E. coli populations than the non-medicated diets. Enterococcal populations, however, were lower, albeit marginally and not necessarily significantly, in feces from pigs fed the ASP 250-medicated diet than those fed the non-medicated diet. Results from trial 2 likewise revealed an increase (p < 0.05) in E. coli and, to a lesser extent, enterococcal populations in feces collected from pigs fed the tylosin-medicated diet compared with those fed the non-medicated diet. Evidence indicated that the E. coli and enterococcal populations in trial 1 were generally insensitive to penicillin or chlortetracycline, as there were no differences between populations recovered without or with antibiotic selection. Conversely, a treatment x day of treatment interaction observed in trial 2 (p < 0.05) provided evidence, albeit slight, of an enrichment of tylosin-insensitive enterococci in feces from the pigs fed the tylosin-medicated but not the non-medicated diet. Under the conditions of the present study, it is unlikely that chlorophyllin-derived efflux pump inhibitors potentially present in the chlorophyllin-fed pigs were able to enhance the efficacy of the available antibiotics. However, further research specifically designed to optimize chlorophyll administration could potentially lead to practical applications for the swine industry.

Assessment of chemical and bacteriological status of treated wastewater of the Baraki WWTP (Algeria) for agricultural purposes

ABSTRACT Due to its geographical location in the arid and semi-arid zone, Algeria is suffering from water stress amplified by the effects of climate change. For these reasons this study was conducted to evaluate the suitability for agricultural reuse of treated wastewater of Baraki WWTP. The quality for agricultural reuse is related to the physicochemical parameters and indicators of water quality. The bacteriological characteristics including total and fecal coliforms, fecal enterococci, Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were also considered. The results revealed that SAR and SSP values were excellent for irrigation. A Wilcox diagram showed that most of the samples fell in the field of C3-S1 indicating high salinity and low sodium water. The physicochemical results indicated that most of parameters are in conformity with standards except ammonia NH4+ and total nitrogen that are higher than the permissible limit of USEPA and FAO. The average concentrations of heavy metals are low compared with the FAO recommendations. However, the bacteriological analyses confirmed the existence of germs indicating a fecal contamination exceeding the WHO regulations but an absence of pathogenic germs. Hence, the disinfection of this water and an adequate treatment is needed before its use for agricultural purposes.

When it rains it pours: An increased prevalence of intestinal carriage of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium related to higher use of oral vancomycin in a tertiary care Hungarian clinical centre during the years of the COVID-19 pandemic

ObjectivesThis study aims to investigate the association between oral vancomycin consumption and intestinal vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus carriage in the pre- and COVID era in the clinical centre of the University of Szeged, Hungary. MethodsThis retrospective microbiological examination was carried out using electronically collected data, corresponding to the period between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2022, at the Department of Medical Microbiology. Data included isolated species and the according antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. Annual consumption data for oral vancomycin consumption were exported from the database of the central pharmacy of the clinical centre. As a strain typing procedure, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis was used. ResultsThere was a significant increase in the number of faecal vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus isolates throughout the study. The prevalence increased significantly during the years of the pandemic. The use of orally administered vancomycin in the clinical centre increased significantly. A strong positive correlation existed between the two phenomena. Several strains with different resistance patterns spread in the clinical centre. Two of these occurred in greater numbers, differing in their high-level aminoglycoside resistance. However, the overall resistance of these strains was stagnating. FTIR analysis revealed that 59 of the 62 strains were also divided into 2 large clusters differing partially in their high-level aminoglycoside resistance. ConclusionsDuring the pandemic, intestinal VRE carriage among clinical centre patients increased significantly, linked to increased oral vancomycin use. Different strains spread, with aminoglycoside resistance being the primary distinction. This highlights the negative impact of the pandemic on VRE carriage.

Assessment of Zn and Cu in piglets' liver and kidney: impact in fecal Enterococcus spp.?

Zinc and copper have been used as growth promotors in alternative to antibiotics in pig's diet. The aim was the ascertainment of the Zn and Cu concentrations in piglets' liver and kidney and their impact in the reduced susceptibility to Zn, Cu, and antibiotics in enterococci, used as microbiota biomarker. Zn and Cu were determined in the livers and kidneys of 43 piglets slaughtered in Portugal, by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Enterococci were isolated from feces for determining the identification of species (E. faecalis, E. faecium, and Enterococcus spp.); susceptibility to vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, linezolid, tigecycline, ampicillin, imipenem, and metals; and Cu tolerance genes. In piglets with Zn and Cu high or toxic levels, enterococci had reduced susceptibility to ions, reinforced by the presence of Cu tolerance genes and by resistance to antibiotics. The study relevance is to show the relationship between these metals' levels and decreased susceptibility to Cu, Zn, and antibiotics by enterococci. From the results, it could be supposed that the piglets were being fed with high doses of Zn and Cu which could select more resistant bacteria to both antibiotics and metals that could spread to environment and humans.

Indication of Phages and Their Role in the Regulation of the Purification Process at the Govsany Aeration Station in Baku

Due to the epidemic situation and the emergence of enteroviral diseases, we set ourselves the task of conducting comprehensive virological and bacteriological studies of the wastewater, its sludge and contaminated soil from the Govsany aeration station. The fact of constant detection of enteroviruses in samples of wastewater and soil in combination with bacteriophages is considered by us as a possibility of detection of bacteriophages at WWTP sites. The 26 wastewater samples contain enteroviruses at various stages of treatment, 18 of which were characterised by high levels of faecal contamination (thermoletarian coliforms), C. perfringens and Enterococcus faecalis. In samples with high contamination (TCB up to 106 per 100 ml of wastewater), which are potentially dangerous in terms of the content of infectious disease pathogens, both bacterial and viral, the number of coliphages was below the norm. Consequently, coliphages cannot be used as a sanitary indicator of microorganisms of viral contamination. Intestinal phages are common where humans and animals live and therefore intestinal bacteria are present. Coliphages (bacteriophages) can be formed from lysogenic enterobacteria during the process of stepwise wastewater treatment at the Govsany WWTP.

Evaluation of the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of drilling water in the Commune of the 7th District in N’Djamena city

This study was carried out in the commune of the 7th District of the city of N’Djamena on the physicochemical and bacteriological quality of water from manual drilling. In total, ten boreholes were taken in ten districts of the said District. On each sample of drilling water taken, seven physicochemical parameters were analyzed, namely temperature, pH, conductivity, turbidity, Nitrates, Ammonium and Iron and four bacteriological parameters in occurrence, E. Coli, fecal coliforms, fecal enterococci and total aerobic mesophilic flora. It appears from these analyzes that on the physicochemical level, very high values were recorded for turbidity (9.33±0.15 NTU, 25.2±0.1 NTU and 34.63±0.49 NTU), on iron (1.16±0.005 and 5.41±0.25 mg/L) and on ammonium ions (0.6±0.15 mg/L and 0.7±0.057 mg/L). On the other hand, on a bacteriological level, most of the water was contaminated with E. Coli, fecal coliforms and total aerobic mesophilic flora. In view of these results, the consumption of this drilling water without prior treatment would expose the population of the 7th District of the commune of Ndjamena to contamination of bacteriological origin. To do this, awareness-raising work among the owners of these boreholes is necessary to warn them of the health risk they run because these borehole waters do not comply with the directives of the texts in force.

Enterococcus Induces MHC-II Expression in the Colonic Epithelium to Aggravate Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Intestinal domination by Enterococcus, a genus of Gram-positive facultative bacteria, has been associated with an increased risk of GVHD mortality in allo-HCT patients and in preclinical models. However, the immunological mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear. Several preclinical studies have demonstrated that MHC-II expression by intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) is involved in allo-antigen presentation and GVHD and can be modulated by the intestinal microbiota. MHC-II genes are constitutively expressed by professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs) but can be induced in non-professional APCs by IFN-γ. Here we reported that Enterococcus could potentially aggravate GVHD through upregulation of MHC-II expression by IECs in an IFN-γ-dependent manner. Using an MHC-disparate mouse model of GVHD (C57BL/6J into BALB/cJ), we profiled the fecal microbiome of GVHD mice by 16S rRNA sequencing and the intestinal epithelium by flow cytometry on day 7 post-transplant. We found that endogenous Enterococcus relative abundance was positively correlated with MHC-II expression by colonic IECs (CD45- CD31- EpCAM+) during GVHD ( Fig. 1a; p=0.0004; 2 replicates; n=19). To determine whether this phenotype occurs in the absence of systemic inflammation, we utilized gnotobiotic mice treated with either E. faecalis, B. producta (a bacteria genus previously associated with improved GVHD outcomes)or PBS via oral gavage. Monocolonization with E. faecalis was sufficient to upregulate MHC-II expression by colonic IECs in non-transplanted (steady-state) animals compared to PBS-treated germfree controls ( Fig. 1b; p=0.0027; 3 replicates; n=8-12/group). On the contrary, monocolonization by B. producta did not induce MHC-II expression by colonic IECs compared to germfree controls ( p=0.96). We also observed that MHC-II upregulation was promoted by specific species within the genus Enterococcus, such that compared to PBS-treated germfree controls, only E. faecalis ( p=0.0007; 3 replicates; n=8-12/group) was able to induce MHC-II expression by colonic IECs, but not E. durans ( p=0.06) , E. gallinarium ( p=0.98) and E. hirae ( p=0.99). Using a Villin-Cre IFN- γ R fl/flmouse model with genetic ablation of the IFN-γ receptor specifically in epithelial cells, we investigated whether MHC-II expression induced by Enterococcus was dependent on IFN-γ signaling. We colonized Villin-Cre pos and Villin-Cre neg littermate controls with E. faecalis via oral gavage after antibiotics decontamination (ampicillin/enrofloxacin) and profiled the intestinal epithelium. We observed that Villin-Cre posmice exhibited a significantly lower MHC-II expression in the small intestine compared to Villin-Cre negmice on day 3 post- Enterococcus colonization ( p=0.012; 2 replicates; n=7/group), suggesting that IFN-γ signaling is necessary to mediate Enterococcus interaction with the intestinal epithelium. Finally, to explore a potential intervention to reduce intestinal inflammation upon Enterococcus domination, we treated GVHD mice with either butyrate-producing B. producta or E. faecalis. Colonization with B. producta reduced fecal Enterococcus burden on day 7 post-transplant ( p=0.007; 2 replicates; n=8/group) and improved survival in GVHD mice, compared to the E. faecalis-colonized group ( p=0.002; 2 replicates; n=18-19/group). We and others have previously shown that butyrate administration can alleviate GVHD through its effects on epithelial homeostasis. To determine whether butyrate could regulate allo-antigen presentation by the intestinal epithelium, we employed the human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cell culture. We pre-treated the cells with IFNγ (100U/ml) to induce MHC-II expression, then added butyrate (5mM) to the culture for 24 hours. Butyrate treatment was sufficient to suppress MHC-II expression by HT-29 cells, compared to DMSO-treated controls ( p=0.006; 3 replicates; n=6/group). Altogether, our results suggest that one mechanism by which Enterococcus can aggravate GVHD involves the upregulation of MHC-II expression by colonic IECs, and treatment with butyrate might serve as an intervention to prevent intestinal inflammation. Further identification of the upstream mediators involved will provide additional mechanistic insight into the interaction between Enterococcus and the intestinal epithelium at steady state and during GVHD.

Effects of different levels of organic chromium and selenomethionine cocktails in broilers.

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace mineral that plays an important role in physiological processes by regulating the antioxidant defense system and enhancing immunity. Chromium is an essential mineral involved in carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and also plays a role in maintaining normal insulin function. Based on these advantages, we hypothesized that the addition of selenomethionine (SeMet) and organic chromium (OC) to broiler diets would increase Se deposition, antioxidant capacity and immune response in meat. Therefore, this study analyzed the effects of OC and SeMet on growh performance, nutrients digestibility, blood profiles, intestinal morphology, meat quality characteristics, and taxonomic analysis of broilers. A total of 168 one-day-old broiler chicken (Arbor Acres) were randomly allotted to 3 groups based on the initial body weight of 37.33 ± 0.24 g with 7 replicate per 8 birds (mixed sex). The experiments period was 28 days. Dietary treatments were folloewd: Basal diets based on corn-soybean meal (CON), basal diet supplemented with 0.2 ppm OC and 0.2 ppm SeMet (CS4), and basal diet supplemented with 0.4 ppm OC and 0.4 ppm SeMet (CS8). Supplementation of OC and SeMet did not affect on growth performance, nutrient digestibility. However, CS8 supplementation increased in duodenum villus height and villus height : crypt depth, and increased in breast meat Se deposition. In addition, CS8 group showed higher uric acid and total antioxidant status than CON group. Taxonomic analysis at phylum level revealed that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes of CS4 and CS8 were lower than CON group. In genus level, the relative abundance of fecal Lactobacillus and Enterococcus of CS4 and CS8 groups were higher than CON group. In short, 0.4 ppm OC and 0.4 ppm SeMet supplementation to broiler diet supporitng positive gut microbiome change, also enhancing antioxidant capacity, and Se deposition in breast meat.

PSIII-19 Effect of Dietary Clay Mineral and Organic Selenium Supplementation on Broilers

Abstract Selenium is an essential trace element that has several important biological roles in humans, including regulation of the antioxidant defense system, improving immunity, and maintaining body homeostasis. However, in countries with densely populated populations around the world, selenium intake is less than the recommended daily intake due to a lack of selenium in the soil. So, we hypothesized that the addition of organic selenium and clay minerals to broiler feed would increase selenium concentration in the meat as well as antioxidant capacity and immune response. Therefore, this study analyzed the effects of clay minerals and organotaselenium on growth performance, digestibility, intestinal morphology, blood characteristics, fecal microbiome, foot-pad dermatitis and meat quality characteristics of broilers. A total of 168 1-d old broiler chicks (Arbor Acres) were randomly assigned to 3 groups based on the initial body weight (37.33 ± 0.24 g) with 7 replicate per 8 birds (mixed sex). The experiments period was 28 d. Dietary treatments were: basal diets based on corn-soybean meal (Control group), basal diet supplemented with 1000 ppm zeolite and 0.2 ppm seleno-methionine (Treatment 1), and basal diet supplemented with 1000 ppm zeolite and 0.4 ppm seleno-methionine (Treatment 2). Supplementation of zeolite and seleno-methionine did not affect (P &amp;gt; 0.05) on growth performance, nutrient digestibility, foot-pad dermatitis. However, increasing level of seleno-metionine showed linear increase (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in villus height/crypt depth ratio of duodenum and selenium concentration in breast meat. Also, increasing level of seleno-methionine showed linear decrease (P &amp;lt; 0.05) in blood uric acid. Total genomic DNA was used to assess the fecal microbiota diversity and composition using the V3-V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene. There were differences in alpha diversity and beta diversity in fecal microbiomes among treatments (P &amp;lt; 0.05). Taxonomic analysis at phylum level revealed that Proteobacteria and Firmicutes of Treatment 1 and Treatment 2 were significantly less than control group. In genus level, the relative abundance of fecal Lactobacillus and Enterococcus of Treatment groups were greater than control group. In short, 1000 ppm zeolite and 0.4 ppm seleno-methionine supplementation to broiler diet supported positive gut microbime change, and enhanced antioxidant capacity, and concentration of selenium in muscle.

Microbiological Variations in Leachates from the Fez Controlled Landfill between the Post-COVID19 and Covid19 Periods (Morocco)

The aim of this work is to gain a better understanding of the bacterial load in the leachate from the controlled landfill in Fez by following a temporal evolution during the year 2021 just after the Covid19 pandemic and during the year 2020 marked by the Corvid19 period. The germs studied were total coliforms (TC), faecal coliforms (FC), faecal enterococci (FE), total aerobic mesophilic flora (AMF), staphylococci (Staph) and salmonella. The results show that the landfill has the highest concentration of all germs in the year 2021. This bacterial load intensifies in summer, as the number of residents has increased with the arrival of tourists, resulting in an increase in waste tonnage and a change in the quality of the leachate. In 2020, the citizens of the city of Fez were confined because of the COVID19 pandemic, tourism was limited in space and time which limited the tonnage of waste and influenced the bacterial load. These results revealed the poor microbiological quality of this leachate. The increase in germ concentrations during the summer season has an effect of evaporation of this leachate, which leads to an increase in the bacterial concentration. It is therefore urgent to properly manage this leachate.

Selection of a diagnostic tool for microbial water quality monitoring and management of faecal contamination of water sources in rural communities

The aim of the current study was to evaluate, validate and select microbial water quality monitoring tools to establish their suitability and feasibility for use in rural communities. The monitoring of water quality was performed at three different levels: i) basic level focusing on sanitary inspection and hydrogen sulphide (H2S) test; ii) intermediate level via enumeration of faecal indicator bacteria (faecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp. and Clostridium perfringens); and iii) advanced level based on qPCR detecting host-associated genetic markers (BacHum, BacCow, Cytb, Pig-2-Bac, and BacCan) and pathogens (Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli O157:H7, and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli). A positive correlation was recorded between sanitary risk and faecal coliforms (r = 0.613 and p < 0.002), E. coli (r = 0.589 and p < 0.003), and Enterococcus spp. (r = 0.625 and p < 0.003). The H2S test showed positive correlations with sanitary risk score (r = 0.623; p < 0.003), faecal coliforms (r = 0.809; p < 0.001), E. coli (r = 0.779; p < 0.001) and Enterococcus spp. (r = 0.799; p < 0.001). Similar correlation patterns were also found with advanced techniques used for detecting host-associated genetic markers, excepted between Clostridium perfringens, and Pig-2-Bac (pig), BacCan (dog), and V. cholerae. The H2S test and sanitary inspections are therefore suitable and cost-effective tools to capacitate rural areas at household level for the monitoring of faecal contamination and management of water sources.

Study of the physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of water intended for consumption in the town of Gagal, southwestern Chad

The city of Gagal suffers from insufficient drinking water, and the population turns to surface water, wells and drillings without guarantee of quality. In order to characterize the hydrogeochemical and bacteriological properties of the waters of the aquifer system in the city of Gagal, to contribute to improving its knowledge, field campaigns were undertaken to sample the groundwater.The present study focuses on the hydrogeochemical and bacteriological characterization of drinking water in Gagal, southwestern Chad. The methodology consisted of acquiring existing data, a field campaign, and a chemical and bacteriological analysis of the water in the laboratory. The results of the physicochemical analyses revealed that the values of the parameters such as conductivity, pH (5.23), Ca²⁺ (26.11 mg/L), Mg²⁺(5.14 mg/L), Na⁺(3.54 mg/L), K⁺(1.34 mg/L), HCO3-(81.74 mg/L), Cl-(11.77 mg/L), SO4-(1.94 mg/L), and NO3- (8.70 mg/L) conformed to the WHO potability standards. Piper's diagram showed calcic and magnesian bicarbonate facies represented by 75%; and calcic and magnesian sulfate chloride facies in 25% of the analyzed waters. The bacteriological (Total coliforms (0 to more than 135,200 CFU/100 ml), Escherichia coli (0 and 14,400 CFU/100 ml), faecal enterococci (0 and 4600 CFU/100 ml)) study confirmed that the water from the wells and boreholes showed pollution of bacterial origin. Using these waters may endanger the populations with the risks of hydric diseases.

The intestinal carrier status of Enterococcus spp. in children: clonal diversity and alterations in resistance phenotypes before and after admission to a pediatric intensive care unit

BackgroundThis study aimed to investigate the intestinal carrier status of Enterococcus spp. among children in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and reveal the role of hospitalization in the alteration of resistance phenotypes and clonal diversity of the isolates during admission and discharge periods.MethodsTwo separate stool samples were collected from hospitalized patients in the pediatric intensive care unit at admission and discharge times. The culture was done, and Enterococcus species were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and carriage of vanA-D gene subtypes. Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR was used for a phylogenetic study to check the homology of pairs of isolates.ResultsThe results showed carriage of Enterococci at admission, discharge, and at both time points in 31%, 28.7%, and 40.1% of the cases, respectively. High frequencies of the fecal Enterococcus isolates with vancomycin-resistance (VR, 32.6% and 41.9%), high-level of gentamicin-resistance (HLGR, 25.6% and 27.9%), and multi-drug resistance phenotypes (MDR, 48.8% and 65.1%) were detected at admission and discharge times, respectively. Resistance to vancomycin, ampicillin, and rifampicin was higher among E. faecium, but resistance to ciprofloxacin was higher in E. faecalis isolates. The increased length of hospital stay was correlated with the carriage of resistant strains to vancomycin, ampicillin, and ciprofloxacin. While the homology of the isolates was low among different patients during hospitalization, identical (9%) and similar (21%) RAPD-PCR patterns were detected between pairs of isolates from each patient.ConclusionsThe high rate of intestinal carriage of VR, HLGR-, and MDR-Enterococci at admission and during hospitalization in the PICU, and the impact of increased length of hospital stay on the fecal carriage of the resistant strains show the importance of antibiotic stewardship programs to control their transmission and spread in children.

Impact of nutrients and trace elements on freshwater microbial communities in Croatia: identifying bacterial bioindicator taxa.

Since aquatic microbial communities promptly respond to environmental changes, it is now evident that they can complement traditional taxa such as fish, macroinvertebrates and algae as bioindicators of water quality. The aim of this study was to correlate the physico-chemical parameters of water with the microbial community structure and the occurrence of putative bioindicator taxa. Thirty-five water samples were collected throughout Croatia and their physico-chemical parameters, including the concentration of trace elements using the high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS), and the composition of the microbial communities by high-throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA marker gene, were analysed in parallel. Partial least squares regression (PLS-R) modelling revealed that a number of microbial taxa were positively correlated with some of the water parameters. For example, some taxa from the phylum Proteobacteria were positively correlated with the ion content of the water (e.g. Erythrobacter, Rhodobacteraceae, Alteromonadaceae), while some Firmicutes taxa, such as the well-known faecal indicators Enterococcus and Clostridium, were correlated with nutrient content (ammonium and total phosphorus). Among the trace elements, uranium was positively correlated with a highest number of microbial taxa. The results obtained will aid in development of protocols for eDNA-based biological assessment of water quality.

Effects of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 addition on nutrient digestibility, faecal characteristics, blood chemistry and faecal Lactobacilli spp., Enterococci spp., and Escherichia coli in healthy dogs

The benefits of probiotics for animal health are widely recognised. In this study, we investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with Bacillus subtilis C-3102 on diet digestibility, faecal characteristics, intestinal shedding of microbiota, and hematological characteristics in healthy dogs. Adult Golden Retriever dogs (n = 18) were divided into three groups: the control group (no B. subtilis), the BS1 group (1 × 109 CFU/g of B. subtilis), and the BS2 group (2 × 109 CFU/g of B. subtilis). Dogs were fed for a 30-day administration period, and total faeces were collected in the last five days. On the first and last days of the study, blood samples were taken to determine hematological characteristics. In addition, the dry matter content, faecal consistency score, faecal output, pH, ammonia level, and quantity of short- and branched-chain fatty acids (SCFAs and BCFAs) in faecal samples were also evaluated. Results revealed that the dry matter, fibre, organic matter, and protein digestibility coefficients were higher in BS1 and BS2 (p < 0.05) compared to the control. Lower pH and higher acetate, propionate, and isobutyrate levels were detected in BS1 and BS2 (p < 0.05). Lower ammonia levels and firmer stools were observed in BS2 (p < 0.001). The numbers of faecal enterococci and lactobacilli were higher in BS1 and BS2 (p < 0.05). Furthermore, B. subtilis increased the concentrations of WBCs, RBCs, and granulocytes in BS1 and BS2 (p < 0.05). Data in the present study suggest that dietary supplementation with B. subtilis improved faecal quality, enhanced nutrient digestibility, and contributed to the dogs’ gut health by reducing gut ammonia, increasing SCFAs, and improving the number of Lactobacillus and Enterococci. HIGHLIGHTS Probiotics are one of the most commonly used feed additives in dog food. Bacillus subtilis boosts the immunity and overall gastrointestinal health of companion animals. B. subtilis dietary supplementation improved dogs’ gut health, immunity, and digestibility of food. B. subtilis increased the concentration of WBCs, RBCs, and granulocytes. B. subtilis reduced gut ammonia and increased SCFAs and the number of lactobacilli and enterococci in faeces.

Physico-chemical and bacteriological characterization of surface waters for domestic use: Case of river waters in M'pody village (Anyama, Ivory Coast)

This study aimed at determining the physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of the waters of the rivers of the village M'pody in order to evaluate their impacts on the health of the populations. The methodology consisted of four water sampling campaigns in the Souman and Chibi rivers. Conventional physico-chemical parameters were determined by electrochemical and spectrophotometric methods. The microbiological analysis was carried out using the membrane filtration technique. The results showed that physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters are beyond the WHO recommendations. The noncompliance of this water is related to high levels of turbidity, conductivity, temperature and a high total iron content. For bacteriological parameters, this noncompliance is related to the presence of Escherichia coli, Tolerant Thermo Coliform, Total Coliform, Fecal Enterococci, Pseudomonas sp, Sulphite-Reducing Anaerobic) (SRA). Water of the rivers showed huge non-conformities related to physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters. This water was therefore unfit for human consumption. Thus, to minimize potential health risks, the adoption of hygiene measures in particular, a good purification of this water must be recommended to the populations in order to better preserve their health.