Enterococci populations of a metropolitan river after an extreme flood event: prevalence, persistence and virulence determinants

We investigated the prevalence, persistence and virulence determinants of enterococci populations in water samples collected over three rounds following an extreme flood event in a metropolitan river. Enterococci (n = 482) were typed using the high resolution biochemical fingerprinting method (PhP t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of water and health 2017-10, Vol.15 (5), p.684-694
Main Authors: Masters, Nicole M, Wiegand, Aaron, Thompson, Jasmin M, Vollmerhausen, Tara L, Hatje, Eva, Katouli, Mohammad
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antibiotic resistance
Antibiotics
Bacteria
Biofilms
Catchment area
Deoxyribonucleic acid
Determinants
Disease resistance
DNA
Drug resistance
Enterococcus
Enterococcus faecalis
Enterococcus faecium
Environmental protection
Fingerprinting
Genes
Hospitals
Laboratories
Niches
Pathogens
Phenotypes
Populations
Pore size
Public health
Recreational waters
Rivers
Studies
Typing
Virulence
Water analysis
Water sampling
Water treatment
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Summary:We investigated the prevalence, persistence and virulence determinants of enterococci populations in water samples collected over three rounds following an extreme flood event in a metropolitan river. Enterococci (n = 482) were typed using the high resolution biochemical fingerprinting method (PhP typing) and grouped into common (C) or single (S) biochemical phenotypes (BPTs). In all, 23 C-BPTs (72.6% of isolates) were found across the sites. A representative isolate of each C-BPT was identified to the species level and tested for the presence of seven virulence genes (VGs), biofilm formation and resistance to 14 antibiotics. The enterococci concentrations in samples collected during the first two rounds were above national recreational water guidelines. By round three, enterococci concentrations decreased significantly (P < 0.05). However, 11 C-BPTs (55.5% of isolates) persisted across all sampling rounds. E. casseliflavus and E. mundtii were the most common enterococci populations comprising of >57% of all isolates. Ten of the 11 most dominant C-BPTs were resistant to multiple antibiotics and harboured one or more VGs. The high prevalence of antibiotic resistance and VGs among enterococci isolates in this catchment not only provides them with niche advantages but also poses a risk to public health.
ISSN:1477-8920
1996-7829
DOI:10.2166/wh.2017.284