ENIVRONMENT ASIA

Volume 15, No. 03, Month SEPTEMBER, Year 2022, Pages 133 - 142

Isolation, characterization, and antimicrobial resistance of enterococcus sp. from irrigation waters in metro manila, philippines

Alona Veronica B. Oliveros and Pierangeli G. Vital

Abstract Download PDF

This study is the first in the Philippines to assess the presence of Enterococcus spp. in surface waters used for irrigation of agricultural produce. It aimed to assess enteric pathogen contamination of irrigation waters that can cause gastrointestinal illnesses. A total of 105 surface water samples from seven sampling sites in Metro Manila, Philippines were evaluated for the prevalence of Enterococcus using culture and molecular methods. Results showed that out of 105 surface-water samples, 70 (67%) were found to be contaminated by Enterococcus. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing by broth microdilution method showed low prevalence of antimicrobial resistant Enterococcus in the surface water samples. Out of 18 Enterococcus isolates, none was resistant to tetracycline, ampicillin, and chloramphenicol, while six (33%) exhibited intermediate resistance and one (6%) exhibited full resistance to ciprofloxacin. This study provides an initial estimation of the prevalence of Enterococcus in surface waters used for irrigation in urban farms in Metro Manila, Philippines and preliminary assessment of their antimicrobial resistance for disease detection and prevention.

Keywords

Antimicrobial resistance; Enterococcus spp.; Prevalence, Produce, Surface-water

---