*Article* **Pathogenic** *Escherichia coli* **Strains Recovered from Selected Aquatic Resources in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, and Its Significance to Public Health**

**Kingsley Ehi Ebomah 1,2,\* ID , Martins Ajibade Adefisoye 1,2 ID and Anthony Ifeanyi Okoh 1,2 ID**


Received: 15 June 2018; Accepted: 10 July 2018; Published: 17 July 2018

**Abstract:** The prevalence of pathogenic microorganisms, as well as the proliferation of antimicrobial resistance, pose a significant threat to public health. However, the magnitude of the impact of aquatic environs concerning the advent and propagation of resistance genes remains vague. *Escherichia coli* (*E. coli*) are widespread and encompass a variety of strains, ranging from non-pathogenic to highly pathogenic. This study reports on the incidence and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of *E. coli* isolates recovered from the Nahoon beach and its canal waters in South Africa. A total of 73 out of 107 (68.2%) Polymerase chain reaction confirmed *E. coli* isolates were found to be affirmative for at least one virulence factor. These comprised of enteropathogenic *E. coli* 11 (10.3%), enteroinvasive *E. coli* 14 (13.1%), and neonatal meningitis *E. coli* 48 (44.9%). The phenotypic antibiogram profiles of the confirmed isolates revealed that all 73 (100%) were resistant to ampicillin, whereas 67 (91.8%) of the pathotypes were resistant to amikacin, gentamicin, and ceftazidime. About 61 (83.6%) and 51 (69.9%) were resistant to tetracycline and ciprofloxacin, respectively, and about 21.9% (16) demonstrated multiple instances of antibiotic resistance, with 100% exhibiting resistance to eight antibiotics. The conclusion from our findings is that the Nahoon beach and its canal waters are reservoirs of potentially virulent and antibiotic-resistant *E. coli* strains, which thus constitute a potent public health risk.

**Keywords:** *E. coli*; surface water; antibiotic-resistance gene; MARI; MARP; multidrug resistance
