Screening for Pathogenic Escherichia Coli in the Chattahoochee River, Columbus, Georgia

<p><em>Escherichia coli</em> testing is frequently used to indicate the possible presence of harmful pathogens, but <em>E. coli</em> itself can be pathogenic. Serotype 0157:H7, enterohemorrhagic <em>E. coli</em>, is likely the most medically important pathogenic strain of E. coli in the United States. In this study, we surveyed for 0157:H7 and three strains of another pathogenic subtype: enterotoxigenic <em>E. coli</em>. We isolated <em>E. coli</em> colonies from samples taken from the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, Georgia at two different locations, above and below wastewater outputs. We used PCR to test for the individual subtypes and then used a nested PCR protocol for the human, bovine, and avian ETEC. Our results show that most isolated <em>E. coli</em> strains are not 0157:H7 or ETEC. However, nested PCR specific for human enterotoxigenic <em>E. coli</em> amplified target sequences in some tested colonies, which may indicate humans as a source of <em>E. coli</em> at our sample sites.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Biology

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Biology

Year dc:date.available

2016

Author dc:creator

• Staples, Micah A

Contributors dc:contributor

• Dr. Lauren King
• Dr. John Davis
• Dr. Cindy Ticknor

• Escherichia Coli
• E. Coli
• Serotype O157:H7
• Columbus Georgia
• Chattahoochee River
• Bacteriology
• Biology
• Pathogenic Microbiology

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://csuepress.columbusstate.edu/theses_dissertations/248

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:csuepress.columbusstate.edu:theses_dissertations-1226