Prevalence of Enterococcus species and their Virulence Genes in Fresh Water Prior to and After Storm Events

Jatinder P S Sidhu; Emily Skelly; Leonie Hodgers; Warish Ahmed; Yatao Li; Simon Toze

doi:10.1021/es4050083

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Prevalence of Enterococcus species and their Virulence Genes in Fresh Water Prior to and After Storm Events

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Prevalence of Enterococcus species and their Virulence Genes in Fresh Water Prior to and After Storm Events

Jatinder P S Sidhu, Emily Skelly, Leonie Hodgers, Warish Ahmed, Yatao Li and Simon Toze

Environmental Science and Technology, Vol.48(5), pp.2979-2988

2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/es4050083

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Abstract

Enterococcus species

storm events

fresh water aquatic environment

Enterococcus spp. isolates (n=286) collected from six surface water bodies in sub-tropical Brisbane Australia, prior to and after storm events, were identified to species level and tested for the presence of seven clinically important virulence genes (VGs). Enterococcus faecalis (48%), Enterococcus faecium (14%), Enterococcus mundtii (13%) and Enterococcus casseliflavus (13%) were frequently detected at all sites. The frequency of E. faecium occurrence increased from 6% in the dry period to 18% after the wet period. The endocarditis antigen (efaA), gelatinase (gelE), collagen-binding protein (ace) and aggregation substance (asa1) were detected in 61%, 43%, 43% and 23% of Enterococcus isolates respectively. The chances of occurrence of ace, gelE, efaA, and asa1 genes in E. faecalis were found to be much higher compared to the other Enterococcus spp. The observed odds ratio of occurrence of ace and gelE genes in E. faecalis was much higher 7.96 and 6.40 times respectively. The hyl gene was 3.84 times more likely to be detected in E. casseliflavus. The presence of multiple VGs in most of the E. faecalis isolates underscores the importance of E. faecalis as a reservoir of VGs in the fresh water aquatic environment. Consequently, if contaminated surface water is to be used for the production of potable and non-potable water some degree of treatment depending upon intended use such as detection in basins or chlorination is required.

Details

Title: Prevalence of Enterococcus species and their Virulence Genes in Fresh Water Prior to and After Storm Events
Authors: Jatinder P S Sidhu (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Emily Skelly (Author) - CSIRO Land and Water
Leonie Hodgers (Author) - CSIRO Land and Water
Warish Ahmed (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Yatao Li (Author) - CSIRO Animal, Food and Health Sciences
Simon Toze (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: Environmental Science and Technology, Vol.48(5), pp.2979-2988
Publisher: American Chemical Society
Date published: 2014
DOI: 10.1021/es4050083
ISSN: 0013-936X
Copyright note: Copyright © 2014 American Chemical Society. The author's accepted version is reproduced here in accordance with the publisher's copyright policy. The definitive version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/es4050083
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448949602621
Output Type: Journal article

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