Detection of Mobile Genetic Elements in Enteric Bacteria and Physicochemical Characteristics of Water from River Ala in Akure, Nigeria

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria can release resistance genes into the rivers, potentially spreading them through mobile genetic elements such as transposable elements, bacteriophages, plasmids, and gene cassettes play a crucial role in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance and horizontal gene transfer. This study investigated the mobile genetic elements in enteric bacteria and physicochemical characteristics of water from River Ala. Water samples were collected bi-weekly over a period of 24 weeks from three representative points in River Ala. Standard microbiological methods were employed to isolate and identify enteric bacteria. The physicochemical characteristics of the water samples including temperature, pH, turbidity, total dissolved solids (TDS), total dissolved solids (TSS), conductivity and biological oxygen demand (BOD) were determined using established protocols. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. Results showed that the turbidity ranged from 2.80±0.06 to 13.19±1.05 NTU, temperature ranged from 27.52±0.48 to 31.50±0.83°C, total dissolved solids (TDS) ranged from 108.09±0.27 to 207.33±7.06 mg/L, pH ranged from 7.13±0.34 to 8.40±0.05, biological oxygen demand ranged from 3.22±0.42 to 4.63±0.32 mg/L and dissolved oxygen ranged from 4.05±0.58 to 6.94±0.14 mg/L. MGEs such as plasmid and integron were detected in Escheric<i>hia coli, Salmonella enterica</i> and <i>Enterobacter cloacae</i>. Findings revealed that there is a need for improved water quality monitoring and public health interventions to mitigate the risks associated with antibiotic resistant bacteria in water from River Ala.