Detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains in groundwater in the Yaoundé region (Cameroon, Central Africa)

• Published in: Water and environment journal : WEJ 2013-09, Vol.27 (3), p.328-337
• Main Authors: Nola, Moïse, Nougang, Mireille E., Noah Ewoti, Olive V., Moungang, Luciane M., Krier, François, Chihib, Nour-Eddine
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: faecal coliforms; groundwater; heterotrophic mesophilic aerobic bacteria; pathogenic E. coli strains
• ISSN: 1747-6585; 1747-6593
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-6593.2012.00349.x

This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains, relative to the total count of E. coli, faecal coliforms and other heterotrophic mesophilic aerobic bacteria (HMAB) isolated in groundwater in the equatorial region of Cameroon (Central Africa). Bacteria were isolated using standard methods. Pathogenic E. coli strains were then identified using haemagglutination and antisera tests. The maximum abundance of HMAB, faecal coliforms and E. coli strains were 4.9 × 106, 5.6 × 103 and 1 × 103 colony‐forming units (CFU)/100 mL, respectively. The count of pathogenic E. coli strains reached 3 CFU/100 mL. The counts of commensal and pathogenic E. coli strains underwent temporal and spatial fluctuations. In 21% of sampling sites, the abundance of faecal coliforms was significantly correlated to that of E. coli (P  0.05). The bacteria abundance dynamics may be impacted by many interacting factors.