Identification of Klebsiella species isolated from Modimola dam (Mafikeng) North West Province South Africa

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%) Klebsiellaspecies 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.   Key words: Klebsiella, Setumo dam, TSI, API 20E, gap A specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR).