Investigation of coliforms and antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli occurrence in the Caspian Sea coast - Guilan province

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

Soil Science Department, Faculty of agricultural Science, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran.

Abstract

Background and Objective: In recent years, many coastal areas have been exposed to the pollutant threats. The occurrence of pathogenic bacteria in recreational beaches has made difficulties in these areas. Resistance of these bacteria to antibiotics has also worsened the situation. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the occurrence of coliforms and antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli, as an indicator bacterium, in the swash zone of Caspian Sea, Guilan province.
Materials and Methods: Nine popular coastal areas in Guilan province including Rudsar, Chamkhaleh, Aminabad, Jafroud, Sahele-Ghou (Anzali), Rezvanshahr, Gisum, Sahele-Zomorrod (Haviq), and Astara were selected for this study. The sand beaches were sampled in three replications from 0-20 cm depth in the swash zone. The coliform number was counted on the EMB medium. pH and EC were also measured in 2:1 sand:distilled water suspension. Then, E. coli as an indicator bacteria was isolated and its resistance to antibiotics was determined by disk diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar medium. Broad spectrum antibiotics including cephalexin, gentamicin, doxycycline, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim were tested. Data for pH, EC and coliform number were analyzed in a completely randomized design and for the zone of inhibition (ZOI) test a factorial arrangement experiment in a completely randomized design was adopted. Also, mean comparisons were done by Tukey test (p<0.05).
Results: In all sampled areas, the pH was alkaline and its highest value was obtained in the Jafroud beach sand. The highest EC value was obtained in Aminabad beach sand which was significantly different from EC values in other sampled sites (p<0.05). The highest number of coliforms was obtained in Sahele-Zomorrod sand beach (5.8 Log CFU g-1). The effect of sampling site and antibiotic interactions on the ZOI of E. coli showed that in three sampling sites including Astara, Gisum and Rezvanshahr the isolated E. coli was resistant to none of the tested antibiotics. In the other six sites except Sahele-Ghou (Anzali), it showed resistance to cephalexin. The isolated E. coli showed resistance only to cephalexin in Jafroud. While it also showed resistance to ceftriaxone in Rudsar, Chamkhaleh (eastern beaches), Sahele-Ghou, and Sahele-Zomorrod.
Conclusion: Overall, the beach sand of the western coastal areas had a lower pH and EC values and higher total coliform number compared to the eastern and central coastal areas. In all studied places, the coliform number was above the standard level for recreational sites. In eastern coastal areas; Chamkhaleh and Roudsar, isolated E. coli showed resistance to both cephalexin and ceftriaxone antibiotics. Thus, the management of microbial contamination especially those that are resistant to antibiotics needs more attention in the eastern coastal areas in Guilan province.

Keywords

References

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Journal of Water and Soil Conservation
Volume 28, Issue 3
February 2022
Pages 173-190

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