Prevalence of Multidrug Resistance and Virulence Genes in Escherichia coli Isolates from Hindon River Water, Western Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The prevalence of multidrug resistance (MDR) and virulence genes in E. coli of river water pose serious public health risks. Addition of Pollutants such as domestic and wild animal faeces, septic trench malfunctions, stormwater drainage, municipal and industrial waste contribute to water quality degradation. The contaminated river water currently serves as a prominent reservoir for diverse virulence genes in E. coli that exhibit antibiotic resistance. Therefore, it is essential to determine the prevalence of virulence genes and multidrug resistance in E. coli. The present study involved the isolation and characterization of E. coli, as well as assessing the prevalence of virulence genes and multidrug resistance in E. coli.  The total E.coli isolates (n = 151) of the Hindon river water were investigated for their virulence genes of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (EHEC), enterotoxin-producing E. coli (ETEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and susceptibility to (n =11) antimicrobial agents of six different classes of antibiotics. The virulence gene stx1 in the EHEC was found to be highest 35.4% in the month of December and stx2 gene was not detected. Whereas, virulence genes LT1 and ST1 for ETEC was maximum in the month of April and found to be 29% and 27% respectively. Similarly, virulence genes (eaeA, and bfp) in EPEC isolates were also highest in the month of April and found as 87% and 84% respectively. The MDR profile for EHEC, ETEC and EPEC showed more than 70% resistance to tetracycline and Ampicillin. The prevalence of multi-drug-resistant E.coli strains of EHEC, ETEC and EPEC in the water of Hindon river water poses a significant health risk of waterborne outbreaks.