Comparative Biotypic and Phylogenetic Profiles ofEscherichia coliIsolated from Resident Stool and Lagoon in Fresco (Côte d’Ivoire)

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities could expose Fresco lagoon to microbial pollution. The objective of this study was to determine the level of pollution in Fresco lagoon related to fecal contaminations. Two hundred and seventy (270) samples including 216 water and 54 human stools samples from local residents were collected.Escherichia coliwas isolated and identified according to classical bacteriology procedure. Strains were characterized by biotyping on API 20E gallery and phylogenetic typing by PCR triplex of Clermont. A set of 392 strains ofE. coliwas distributed into 18 biotypic profiles. Five biotypes were common to water and human. Classification of all biotypes revealed close relationship between water and human strains because of their repartition in the same groups. Phylogenetic groups A, B1, B2, and D were identified in all strains. Strains belonging to phylogenetic group A were most frequent in water (69.82%) and human stool (44.44%) followed by group B1 in water (24%) and human stool (40.7%). Strains of group B2 were scarce in water (4.4%) and humans (7.41%). The diversity ofE. colibiotypes observed in this study revealed animal and human origins of contaminations. A close relationship was found between water and human strains, and the presence of commensal and extraintestinal pathogenicE. coliin all samples could represent a potential reservoir of extraintestinal infections for resident populations.