Recognition of Pathogenic Bacteria in Drinking Water Through PCR Analysis

In this study, the presence of pathogenic microorganisms such as Listeria Monocytogenes, Escherichia coli with its O157:H7 serotype, and Salmonella spp. was determined in drinking water in the Chambo canton. Selective culture media techniques and conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) were employed for this purpose. Specific primers for each pathogen were used for thermocycling, along with positive controls for contrast. A total of 50 samples from different strategic points in the area were analyzed using these methodologies. Listeria monocytogenes was detected in 40% (20/50) of the samples, Escherichia coli with its O157:H7 serotype in 80% (40/50), and Salmonella spp. in 20% (10/50). Thus, the quality of the drinking water in the canton was determined based on the number of points contaminated with the studied pathogens. The objective of this research is to understand the degree of contamination in drinking water and to consider possible alternatives in the sector to reduce the microbial load in the study matrix.