Multidrug-Resistant Listeria Species Shows Abundance in Environmental Waters of a Key District Municipality in South Africa

Liyabona Mpondo, Kingsley Ehi Ebomah and Anthony Ifeanyi Okoh
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Liyabona Mpondo: SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa
Kingsley Ehi Ebomah: SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa
Anthony Ifeanyi Okoh: SAMRC Microbial Water Quality Monitoring Centre, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: The prevalence of bacteria with multidrug-resistance (MDR) is a significant threat to public health globally. Listeria spp. are naturally ubiquitous, with L. monocytogenes particularly being ranked as important foodborne disease-causing microorganisms. This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and determine the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of multidrug-resistant Listeria spp. (MDRL) isolated from different environmental samples (river and irrigation water) in the Sarah Baartman District Municipality (SBDM), Eastern Cape Province (ECP), South Africa. Molecular identification and characterization were carried out using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and isolates that exhibited phenotypic resistance were further screened for relevant antimicrobial-resistant genes (ARGs). Findings revealed a total of 124 presumptive Listeria isolates; 69 were molecularly confirmed Listeria species. Out of the confirmed species, 41 isolates (59%) were classified as L. monocytogenes while 9 (13%) were classified as L. welshimeri . All Listeria spp. exhibited phenotypic resistance against ampicillin, penicillin, and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole and further screening revealed ARGs in the following proportions: sulI (71%), bla TEM (66%), tetA (63%), and bla CIT (33%). Results confirmed the occurrence of ARGs among Listeria inhabiting surface waters of ECP. The present study indicates that the river water samples collected from SBDM are highly contaminated with MDRL, hence, constituting a potential health risk.

Keywords: antimicrobial-resistant gene; L. monocytogenes; Listeria; multidrug-resistance; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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