Antibiotic-resistant microbial populations in urban receiving waters and wastewaters from Tanzania

Asha Shabani Ripanda; Mwemezi J. Rwiza; Elias Charles Nyanza; Hossein Miraji; Numfor Linda Bih; Alexanda Mzula; Elisa Mwega; Karoli N. Njau; Said Ali Hamad Vuai; Revocatus L. Machunda

Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology (Jan 2023)

Antibiotic-resistant microbial populations in urban receiving waters and wastewaters from Tanzania

Asha Shabani Ripanda,
Mwemezi J. Rwiza,
Elias Charles Nyanza,
Hossein Miraji,
Numfor Linda Bih,
Alexanda Mzula,
Elisa Mwega,
Karoli N. Njau,
Said Ali Hamad Vuai,
Revocatus L. Machunda

Affiliations

Asha Shabani Ripanda: School of Materials, Energy, Water and Environmental Sciences (MEWES), P.O. Box 447, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania; Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, P.O. Box 338, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania; Corresponding author at: School of Materials, Energy, Water and Environmental Sciences (MEWES), P.O. Box 447, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania.
Mwemezi J. Rwiza: School of Materials, Energy, Water and Environmental Sciences (MEWES), P.O. Box 447, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania
Elias Charles Nyanza: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences (CUHAS), 1464 Mwanza, Tanzania
Hossein Miraji: Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, P.O. Box 338, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
Numfor Linda Bih: School of Materials, Energy, Water and Environmental Sciences (MEWES), P.O. Box 447, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania
Alexanda Mzula: College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
Elisa Mwega: College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
Karoli N. Njau: School of Materials, Energy, Water and Environmental Sciences (MEWES), P.O. Box 447, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania
Said Ali Hamad Vuai: Department of Chemistry, College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, P.O. Box 338, University of Dodoma, Dodoma, Tanzania
Revocatus L. Machunda: School of Materials, Energy, Water and Environmental Sciences (MEWES), P.O. Box 447, The Nelson Mandela African Institution of Science and Technology (NM-AIST), Tengeru, Arusha, Tanzania

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 5
pp. 1 – 8

Abstract

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Antimicrobial resistance against certain medications in the pathogenic microbial community is globally increasing due to the continual discharge and disposal of pharmaceuticals in the environment. The phenomenon resulted in significant antibiotic resistance among several exposed Enterobacteriaceae species, with wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and rivers serving as significant reservoirs. Despite antibiotic resistance being a tragedy, particularly in treating diseases by using antibiotics, local and regional studies indicating the severity, resistant species and the molecular level insight into these pathogens are scarce, thus requiring immediate intervention. This study, therefore, investigated wastewater from wastewater treatment ponds and receiving waters for the presence of resistant pathogens through phenotypical and molecular approach screening of their genes. Among the 57 analyzed samples, 18 (67%, n = 27) isolates of Klebsiella spp.., 4 (80%, n = 5) isolates of Proteus spp., 1 (100%, n = 1) of isolated Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 6 (18%, n = 34) of E. coli found were resistant to at least 1 among the tested antibiotics. E. coli had an 83% higher proportion of multi-drug resistance (MDR) than Klebsiella spp.., which had 68.5%, and no MDR was shown by P. aeruginosa isolates. Among the 20 bacterial isolates of antibiotic-resistant genes, showed that E. coli harboured 39%, followed by 22% of Klebsiella spp. Eleven (11) isolates of these 20 (55%) contained sulphonamides resistant genes: Sul 1 (n = 4) and Sul 2 (n = 7). Ten (10) isolates (50%) contained the tetracycline-resistant genes in which 4 isolates showed the Tet A, Tet B – 1 and 5 isolates contained Tet D. β-lactamases (bla CTX-M and bla SHV) were found in 7 isolates (35%). The existence of these antibiotic-resistant species in the urban receiving and wastewater presents a threat of transmission of diseases to humans and animals that are not cured by the existing medications, jeopardizing public health safety.

Published in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology

ISSN: 2590-1826 (Online)
Publisher: KeAi Communications Co., Ltd.
Country of publisher: China
LCC subjects: Technology: Environmental technology. Sanitary engineering
Website: https://www.keaipublishing.com/en/journals/environmental-chemistry-and-ecotoxicology/

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