Pathotypes and antibiotic resistance of escherichia coli in residual water

Abstract

Water pollution is a serious environmental problem. We analyzed the presence of total fecal coliforms and Escherichia coli, the prevalence of diarrheal pathotypes, and the profiles of antibiotic resistance at different stages. Three composite samples from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Mexico were analyzed for the presence E. coli with the physical and chemical parameters established in the Mexican Official Standard NOM-001-SEMARNAT-1996. Fifty seven strains were selected from the different stages of the process, and the following pathotypes were determined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction: enteropathogenic (EPEC), enterotoxigenic (ETEC), enteroinvasive (EIEC), enteroaggregative (EAEC), enterohemorrhagic (EHEC), and diffuse adherence (DAEC). Their resistance was assessed by the Kirby Bauer method. The results showed a removal efficiency of 95.4% based on the chemical oxygen demand (BOD5). Coliforms and E. coli were found to be higher in the influent. The total frequency of pathotypes was 39 % (22/57) for EIEC, 30 % (17/57) for ETEC, and 15.5 % (9/57) for DAEC and EPEC. Regarding the distribution, 39% of ETEC was detected in the influent, 50% of EIEC before disinfection, 100% of EIEC after disinfection and 43% of ETEC in the effluent.