Molecular detection of Enterococcus with special reference to Enterococcus faecalis from water sources and its antimicrobial resistance

Abstract

The present study aimed at phenotypic and genotypic detection of Enterococcus and E. faecalis from different water sources and its antimicrobial resistance pattern. A total of 280 numbers of water samples were collected from five different types of sources viz. river, spring, stream, runoff and recreational pool in Aizawl district, Mizoram. Enterococcus and E. faecalis in water samples were detected phenotypically and genotypically by detection of tuf and sodA gene, respectively. The E. faecalis strains were evaluated for in vitro antibiotic sensitivity profile by disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration assay against a panel of 14 antibiotics. The overall prevalence of Enterococcus was found to be 56.78% contributing to 71.66% in river, 68.33% in run-off, 63.33% in stream, 51.66% in spring and 15% in recreational pool water. The overall prevalence of E. faecalis was 42.14% contributing to 58.33% in river, 50% in stream, 46.66% in runoff and 41.66% in spring water. The E. faecalis strains were 100% sensitive to vancomycin and highest resistant to nalidixic acid (87.28%). High prevalence of Enterococcus and E. faecalis in different water sources indicates the faecal contamination of water from various animal and human wastes. Even though vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) is of great concern globally, present study revealed otherwise.