High prevalence of Salmonella Typhi from well water harboring CTX-M and tetA resistance gene

Boniface Oke 1, Onyinye Lovette Nomeh 2, Ikechukwu Herbert Egwu 1, Christiana Inuaesiet Edemekong 3, Michael Chukwuemeka Nwiboko 1, Ikemesit Udeme Peter 4, * and Ifeanyichukwu Romanus Iroha 1

1 Department of Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, P.M.B. 53, Nigeria.
2 Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Science, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, P. M. B. 1010, Ikwo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.
3 Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Trans-Ekulu, P.M.B. 01473, Enugu, Nigeria.
4 Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Technology and Engineering, Federal University of Allied Health Sciences, Trans-Ekulu, P.M.B. 01473, Enugu, Nigeria.
 
Research Article
World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews, 2024, 23(01), 2848–2857
Article DOI: 10.30574/wjarr.2024.23.1.2260
 
Publication history: 
Received on 11 June 2024; revised on 25 July 2024; accepted on 27 July 2024
 
Abstract: 
The presence of antibiotic-resistance genes in well water is a threat to community inhabitants.  Thus, our study tends to identify the prevalence of Salmonella Typhi from well water harboring CTX-M and tetA resistance genes. A total of ten well water samples were collected from different wells at Onueke metropolis and cultured for the presence of Salmonella Typhi.  Antimicrobial resistance studies of Salmonella Typhi were determined using the Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method. PCR was employed to screen the distribution of the resistance genes (blaCTX-M and tetA) among the recovered Salmonella serovar Typhi. A total of 112 isolates of Salmonella Typhi were isolated from different well water comprising WW1 (n=6), WW2 (n=10), WW3 (n=15), WW4 (n=7), WW5 (n=21), WW6 (n=5), WW7 (14), WW8 (n=11), WW9 (n=15), and WW10 (n=8). Salmonella Typhi demonstrated high resistance to tetracycline 100 %, Aztreonam 100%, cephalosporin 79.5-100 %, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid 82.1 %, but were susceptible to imipenem 100%, Azithromycin 89.3 %, ciprofloxacin 91.1 % and gentamicin 84.8 %. PCR amplification of the resistance gene in Salmonella Typhi revealed the overall occurrence of blaCTX-M and tetA gene at 69.7% and 71.4 % respectively. Our study reports the presence of blaCTX-M and tetA genotype in Salmonella Typhi from well water and, may become responsible for intestinal infectious diseases in humans that are often considered as healthy carriers. There is a high tendency to transfer antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella strains to humans through the water source posing a public health threat that can result in higher morbidity and mortality, as well as increased cost of treatment. Improvement of water quality is of primary concern, well water depth inspection, and more stringent chlorine disinfection need to be taken into consideration to prevent resistant bacteria, and waste-water effluent should be properly treated before discharge to avoid percolation of ARG into groundwater. Also, there should be awareness/ management strategies for the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in water
 
Keywords: 
Salmonella Typhi; blaCTX-MtetA; Well water
 
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