Detection of virulence genes of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli strains from drinking water in Khartoum State
Abstract This study aimed to determine the prevalence of virulence genes in all the diarrheagenic Escherichia coli DEC strains (EAEC, EHEC, EIEC, EPEC, and ETEC) isolated from drinking water from Khartoum State, Sudan. A total of 46 drinking water samples obtained from different water sources were analyzed for the presence of E. coli as fecal contamination indicator and the antimicrobial-resistant pattern of isolated E. coli DEC strain was investigated. The bacterial genomic DNA was used as a template for multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MPCR) for the detection of the EHEC (stx gene), EIEC (ipaH gene), EPEC (eae gene), and EAEC (aggR gene) as virulence and biomarker genes. Our results showed that ipaH gene was found in 41.3% (19/46) of isolates, and aggR gene detected in 30.4% (14/46) of isolates. Both aggR and ipaH were found positive in 9 (19.5%) isolates and as well the combination of aggR and stx genes were detected in 2 (4.3%) isolates. In conclusion, this report confirmed the presence of DEC strains in drinking water from different resources and locations. Such findings require separate future clinical research studies to examine waterborne pathogens that exist in this state's water and find a management solution to stop or avoid potential outbreaks.