Assessment of Virulence Potential and Antibiotic Resistance Profiles in E. coli Isolates from Selected Control Open Dump Sites in Sri Lanka

Abstract

Abstract Urbanization and accelerated industrialization have led to significant waste generation following the accumulation of massive amounts of solid waste in open dump sites. Ground water contamination is one of the critical ecological concerns associated with the percolation of leachate from dump sites. Escherichia coli is one of the facultative anaerobic bacterial types predominantly colonize the gastrointestinal tract of homoeothermic organisms. E.coli O157 is a particular virulent serotype which produces intimin and Shiga toxins, that causing for severe diseases including Hemorrhagic Colitis, Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in human. The focus of the present study is to study the virulence potential and antibiotic resistance profiles in E. coli isolates from selected Karadiyana, Methotamulla and Kerawalapitiya control open dump sites in Sri Lanka. The total coliform count was ranged from 0–120 MPN/mL around the Kardiyana dump site whereas 0–75 MPN/mL and 3-115 MPN/mL recorded in the Methotamulla and Kerawalapitiya dump sites. Overall, resistance in isolated E.coli against AMX, AMP, SUF/ TRI, SDI, CLOX, TET and ERM was high (> 70%) compared with the other tested antibiotics namely CIP, GEN and AZY (< 40%). According to the results, the Enteropathogenic E. coli pathotype was identified in 17 samples, whereas the Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli pathotype was found in only 3 samples. Thus, the current study was conducted to investigate control open dump sites as potential environmental reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic E. coli as these organisms could represent a potential health threat through the contamination of groundwater.