%0 Journal Article
%T Municipal Wastewater Effluents as a Source of Listerial Pathogens in the Aquatic Milieu of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: A Concern of Public Health Importance
%A Emmanuel E.O. Odjadjare
%A Larry C. Obi
%A Anthony I. Okoh
%J International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
%D 2010
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/ijerph7052376
%X We evaluated the effluent quality of an urban wastewater treatment facility in South Africa and its impact on the receiving watershed for a period of 12 months. The prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of potential Listeria pathogens ( L. ivanovii and L. innocua) and the physicochemical quality of the treated wastewater effluent was assessed, with a view to ascertain the potential health and environmental hazards of the discharged effluent. Total listerial density varied between 2.9 ¡Á 10 0 and 1.2 ¡Á 10 5 cfu/mL; free living Listeria species were more prevalent (84%), compared to Listeria species attached to planktons (59¨C75%). The treated effluent quality fell short of recommended standards for turbidity, dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen demand, nitrite, phosphate and Listeria density; while pH, temperature, total dissolved solids and nitrate contents were compliant with target quality limits after treatment. The Listeria isolates (23) were sensitive to three (15%) of the 20 test antibiotics, and showed varying (4.5¨C91%) levels of resistance to 17 antibiotics. Of seven resistance gene markers assayed, only sulII genes were detected in five (22%) Listeria strains. The study demonstrates a potential negative impact of the wastewater effluent on the receiving environment and suggests a serious public health implication for those who depend on the receiving watershed for drinking and other purposes.
%K water quality
%K Listeria pathogens
%K health/environmental impact
%K receiving watershed
%U http://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/7/5/2376