Survey And Antibiogram of Escherichia coli O157:H7 In Drinking Water Sources In Argungu Zone Of Kebbi State, Nigeria

Water Source is essential to human life, both for drinking, bathing and other domestic activities, which lead to discriminate demand and production of portable water in Kebbi State. Coliform such as E. coli O157:H7 is pathogenic serotype that is known to cause diarrhea leading to fluid loss and other complication like haemolytic Ureamic syndrome. A gram-negative bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae, their presence in water signifies faecal contamination. A survey and antibiogram of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in drinking water sources was investigated in Argungu zone of Kebbi State, Nigeria. One hundred water samples that include those from Borehole, (40) Well, (50) Tap (8) and Dam (2) were sampled for the study. The samples were inoculated onto MacConkey agar and pinkish colonies on the media were subculture on to Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar. The presumptive E. coli isolates that appeared as green metallic sheen on EMB were further conformed biochemically. The people within the area do not consider water source as possible health hazards associated with such water. Therefore, wells stand the risk of contamination either from human beings or other animals as severally reported in the literature. The presence of Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7 in Argungu town indicate the need for more intense public health awareness by sanitary health officers and to also investigate water sources periodically for their bacteriological quality.