Prevalence and pathogenicity of vibrios in treated final effluents of selected wastewater treatment plants in the Amathole District Municipality of Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Badela, Andiswa Unathi
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Whole effluent toxicity testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Bacterial diseases -- Pathogenesis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11284 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019774 , Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Whole effluent toxicity testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Bacterial diseases -- Pathogenesis
- Description: Waterborne diarrhoeal infections continue to be a major health setback in developing countries, especially in rural areas which lack adequate supply of portable water and sanitation facilities. Globally, waterborne diarrhoeal infections occur with an estimated mortality rate of 10–25 million deaths per year, 95% of which are children under the age of 5 years. The Vibrio species is one of the major groups of enteric pathogens that are responsible for diarrhoeal infections. Many strains of these bacterial species continue to cause epidemics of diarrhoea throughout the world. In this study, the prevalence of Vibrio pathogens in wastewater final effluents was assessed. Wastewater final effluent and discharge point samples were collected monthly between September 2012 and August 2013. All samples were collected aseptically using sterile 1 L Nalgene bottles containing 0.5 ml of sterile sodium thiosulphate solution and transported on ice to the laboratory for analyses within 6 h of collection. The membrane filtration method was used for enumeration of presumptive Vibrio densities on thiosulfate citrate bile salt (TCBS) agar plates. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was then used to confirm the identities of the presumptive Vibrio species using the species-specific primers. The confirmed isolates were further subjected to molecular characterization to confirm their respective pathotypes. Presumptive Vibrio densities varied from 0 to 2.11 × 102 cfu/100 ml. Out of 300 confirmed Vibrio isolates; 13.3% (40/300) were Vibrio fluvialis, 22% (66/300) were confirmed to be Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and 24.7% (74/300) proved to be Vibrio vulnificus, and 40% (120/300) were other Vibrio species which were not assessed for in this study. The strains of Vibrio fluvialis were found to exhibit 100% resistance to Polymixin and Tetracycline. However, Gentamicin was active against all the three Vibrio species selected for the purpose of this research. The recovery of Vibrio species in the discharged effluents throughout the sampling period even in adequately disinfected effluents is not acceptable considering the fact that Vibrio is a pathogenic bacterium. The findings of this study underline the need for constant monitoring of the microbiological qualities of discharged effluents and might also be suggestive for a review of the disinfection methods used at the treatment works.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Badela, Andiswa Unathi
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Whole effluent toxicity testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Bacterial diseases -- Pathogenesis
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11284 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019774 , Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Whole effluent toxicity testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Bacterial diseases -- Pathogenesis
- Description: Waterborne diarrhoeal infections continue to be a major health setback in developing countries, especially in rural areas which lack adequate supply of portable water and sanitation facilities. Globally, waterborne diarrhoeal infections occur with an estimated mortality rate of 10–25 million deaths per year, 95% of which are children under the age of 5 years. The Vibrio species is one of the major groups of enteric pathogens that are responsible for diarrhoeal infections. Many strains of these bacterial species continue to cause epidemics of diarrhoea throughout the world. In this study, the prevalence of Vibrio pathogens in wastewater final effluents was assessed. Wastewater final effluent and discharge point samples were collected monthly between September 2012 and August 2013. All samples were collected aseptically using sterile 1 L Nalgene bottles containing 0.5 ml of sterile sodium thiosulphate solution and transported on ice to the laboratory for analyses within 6 h of collection. The membrane filtration method was used for enumeration of presumptive Vibrio densities on thiosulfate citrate bile salt (TCBS) agar plates. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was then used to confirm the identities of the presumptive Vibrio species using the species-specific primers. The confirmed isolates were further subjected to molecular characterization to confirm their respective pathotypes. Presumptive Vibrio densities varied from 0 to 2.11 × 102 cfu/100 ml. Out of 300 confirmed Vibrio isolates; 13.3% (40/300) were Vibrio fluvialis, 22% (66/300) were confirmed to be Vibrio parahaemolyticus, and 24.7% (74/300) proved to be Vibrio vulnificus, and 40% (120/300) were other Vibrio species which were not assessed for in this study. The strains of Vibrio fluvialis were found to exhibit 100% resistance to Polymixin and Tetracycline. However, Gentamicin was active against all the three Vibrio species selected for the purpose of this research. The recovery of Vibrio species in the discharged effluents throughout the sampling period even in adequately disinfected effluents is not acceptable considering the fact that Vibrio is a pathogenic bacterium. The findings of this study underline the need for constant monitoring of the microbiological qualities of discharged effluents and might also be suggestive for a review of the disinfection methods used at the treatment works.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Prevalence of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains in the final effluents of four wastewater treatment plants in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Seti, Nozuko Zukiswa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Bacterial diseases -- Pathogenesis , Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Whole effluent toxicity testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11286 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019808 , Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Bacterial diseases -- Pathogenesis , Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Whole effluent toxicity testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Water is an essential need that stimulates health and well being. Increase in population size and urbanization negatively affect water resources due to high demands of effluent outputs. Wastewater is an important reservoir for Escherichia coli and can present significant acute toxicity if released into receiving water sources without being adequately treated. E. coli is used as indicator organism for the detection of faecal contamination. These strains have been considered to be one of the primary causes of diarrhoeal infections worldwide. The present study was conducted between September 2012 and June 2013 to assess the prevalence of pathogenic E. coli strains in the final effluents of four wastewater treatment plants in Chris Hani and Buffalo City Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Standard membrane filtration technique was used for bacteriological analysis and molecular based technique was used for identification of E. coli pathotypes. The results were recorded in colony forming units/100 ml. Faecal coliforms ranged between 0-9.6×10³ CFU/100 ml for the wwtp-Q and E. coli densities ranged between 0-8.4×10³ CFU/100ml. Faecal coliforms ranged between 4×10²-9.7×10³ CFU/100 ml for wwtp-M and E. coli densities ranged between 1.2×10¹-8.4×10³ CFU/100 ml. The wwtp-E showed to have bacterial counts of faecal coliforms ranging between 4.0×10³-8.2×10³ CFU/100 ml and E. coli densities ranging between 3.5×10¹-7.1×10³ CFU/100 ml. The WWTP-K in this study was only assessed for the presence of E. coli. Faecal coliforms were assessed by the other members of the group. This plant showed to have E. coli densities ranging between 0-7.5×10²CFU/100 ml. A total of 200 presumptive E. coli isolates were subjected to screening by conventional PCR in which (29%) of the wwtp-M isolates were positively identified as E. coli, (16%) of the wwtp-K, (22%) of the wwtp-Q and (34%) of the wwtp-E isolates were positively confirmed as E. coli. A total of 100 randomly selected E. coli isolates were characterised into different pathotypes. (16%) of positive isolates were detected as EPEC and 11% were detected as UPEC strains. There was no detection for the ETEC strains. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of E. coli strains showed high levels of resistance to Penicillin G, Erythromycin, Tetracycline and Sulfamethoxazole. High levels of Susceptibility were observed in antibiotics such as Chloramphenicol, Amoxicillin and Tetracycline. The results of this study reveal that the plants were above the recommended Standard limit of zero CFU/100 ml for effluents meant to be discharge into receiving water sources. This study reveals inadequacy of the plants studied to produce effluents of acceptable quality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Seti, Nozuko Zukiswa
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Bacterial diseases -- Pathogenesis , Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Whole effluent toxicity testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11286 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019808 , Escherichia coli -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Bacterial diseases -- Pathogenesis , Sewage -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Whole effluent toxicity testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Water is an essential need that stimulates health and well being. Increase in population size and urbanization negatively affect water resources due to high demands of effluent outputs. Wastewater is an important reservoir for Escherichia coli and can present significant acute toxicity if released into receiving water sources without being adequately treated. E. coli is used as indicator organism for the detection of faecal contamination. These strains have been considered to be one of the primary causes of diarrhoeal infections worldwide. The present study was conducted between September 2012 and June 2013 to assess the prevalence of pathogenic E. coli strains in the final effluents of four wastewater treatment plants in Chris Hani and Buffalo City Municipalities in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Standard membrane filtration technique was used for bacteriological analysis and molecular based technique was used for identification of E. coli pathotypes. The results were recorded in colony forming units/100 ml. Faecal coliforms ranged between 0-9.6×10³ CFU/100 ml for the wwtp-Q and E. coli densities ranged between 0-8.4×10³ CFU/100ml. Faecal coliforms ranged between 4×10²-9.7×10³ CFU/100 ml for wwtp-M and E. coli densities ranged between 1.2×10¹-8.4×10³ CFU/100 ml. The wwtp-E showed to have bacterial counts of faecal coliforms ranging between 4.0×10³-8.2×10³ CFU/100 ml and E. coli densities ranging between 3.5×10¹-7.1×10³ CFU/100 ml. The WWTP-K in this study was only assessed for the presence of E. coli. Faecal coliforms were assessed by the other members of the group. This plant showed to have E. coli densities ranging between 0-7.5×10²CFU/100 ml. A total of 200 presumptive E. coli isolates were subjected to screening by conventional PCR in which (29%) of the wwtp-M isolates were positively identified as E. coli, (16%) of the wwtp-K, (22%) of the wwtp-Q and (34%) of the wwtp-E isolates were positively confirmed as E. coli. A total of 100 randomly selected E. coli isolates were characterised into different pathotypes. (16%) of positive isolates were detected as EPEC and 11% were detected as UPEC strains. There was no detection for the ETEC strains. Antibiotic susceptibility patterns of E. coli strains showed high levels of resistance to Penicillin G, Erythromycin, Tetracycline and Sulfamethoxazole. High levels of Susceptibility were observed in antibiotics such as Chloramphenicol, Amoxicillin and Tetracycline. The results of this study reveal that the plants were above the recommended Standard limit of zero CFU/100 ml for effluents meant to be discharge into receiving water sources. This study reveals inadequacy of the plants studied to produce effluents of acceptable quality.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
Quality indices of the final effluents of two sub-urban-based wastewater treatment plants in Amathole District Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa
- Authors: Gcilitshana, Onele
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Whole effluent toxicity testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Effluent quality -- Testing , Viruses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water reuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11288 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019816 , Whole effluent toxicity testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Effluent quality -- Testing , Viruses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water reuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Worldwide, water reuse is promoted as an alternative for water scarcity, however, wastewater effluents have been reported as possible contaminants to surface water. The failure of some wastewater treatment processes to completely remove organic matter and some pathogenic microorganisms allows them to initiate infections. This manifests more in communities where surface water is used directly for drinking. To assess water quality, bacteria alone cannot be used as it may be absent in virus-contaminated water. This study was carried out to assess the quality of two wastewater treatment plant effluents from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Physicochemical parameters and microbiological parameters like faecal coliforms, adenovirus, rotavirus, hepatitis A virus, norovirus and enterovirus were evaluated over a projected period of one year. Physicochemical parameters were measured on site using multiparameters, faecal coliforms enumerated using culture-based methods and viruses are detected using both conventional and real-time PCR. Physicochemical parameters like electrical conductivity, turbidity, free chlorine and phosphates were incompliant with the standards set by the Department of Water affairs for effluents to be discharged. Faecal coliform counts were nil for one plant (WWTP-R) where they correlated inversely (P < 0.01) with the high free chlorine. For WWTP-K, faecal coliforms were detected in 27% of samples in the range of 9.9 × 101 to 6.4× 104 CFU/100ml. From the five viruses assessed, three viruses were detected with Rotavirus being the most abundant (0-2034176 genome copies/L) followed by Adenovirus (0–275 genome copies/L) then Hepatitis A virus (0–71 genome copies/L) in the WWTP-K while none of the viruses was detected in WWTP-R. Species B, species C and Adv41 serotypes were detected from the May 2013 and June 2013 samples where almost all parameters were incompliant in the plant. The detection of these viruses in supposedly treated effluents is suggestive of these being the sources of contamination to surface water and therefore renders surface waters unsafe for direct use and to aquatic life. Although real-time PCR is more sensitive and reliable in detection of viruses, use of cell-culture techniques in this study would have been more efficient in confirming the infectivity of the viruses detected, hence the recommendation of these techniques in future projects of this nature.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
- Authors: Gcilitshana, Onele
- Date: 2014
- Subjects: Whole effluent toxicity testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Effluent quality -- Testing , Viruses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water reuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , MSc (Microbiology)
- Identifier: vital:11288 , http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1019816 , Whole effluent toxicity testing -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Sewage disposal plants -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water -- Purification -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Effluent quality -- Testing , Viruses -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape , Water reuse -- South Africa -- Eastern Cape
- Description: Worldwide, water reuse is promoted as an alternative for water scarcity, however, wastewater effluents have been reported as possible contaminants to surface water. The failure of some wastewater treatment processes to completely remove organic matter and some pathogenic microorganisms allows them to initiate infections. This manifests more in communities where surface water is used directly for drinking. To assess water quality, bacteria alone cannot be used as it may be absent in virus-contaminated water. This study was carried out to assess the quality of two wastewater treatment plant effluents from the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. Physicochemical parameters and microbiological parameters like faecal coliforms, adenovirus, rotavirus, hepatitis A virus, norovirus and enterovirus were evaluated over a projected period of one year. Physicochemical parameters were measured on site using multiparameters, faecal coliforms enumerated using culture-based methods and viruses are detected using both conventional and real-time PCR. Physicochemical parameters like electrical conductivity, turbidity, free chlorine and phosphates were incompliant with the standards set by the Department of Water affairs for effluents to be discharged. Faecal coliform counts were nil for one plant (WWTP-R) where they correlated inversely (P < 0.01) with the high free chlorine. For WWTP-K, faecal coliforms were detected in 27% of samples in the range of 9.9 × 101 to 6.4× 104 CFU/100ml. From the five viruses assessed, three viruses were detected with Rotavirus being the most abundant (0-2034176 genome copies/L) followed by Adenovirus (0–275 genome copies/L) then Hepatitis A virus (0–71 genome copies/L) in the WWTP-K while none of the viruses was detected in WWTP-R. Species B, species C and Adv41 serotypes were detected from the May 2013 and June 2013 samples where almost all parameters were incompliant in the plant. The detection of these viruses in supposedly treated effluents is suggestive of these being the sources of contamination to surface water and therefore renders surface waters unsafe for direct use and to aquatic life. Although real-time PCR is more sensitive and reliable in detection of viruses, use of cell-culture techniques in this study would have been more efficient in confirming the infectivity of the viruses detected, hence the recommendation of these techniques in future projects of this nature.
- Full Text:
- Date Issued: 2014
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