Detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains in groundwater in the Yaoundé region (Cameroon, Central Africa)

This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of pathogenic E scherichia coli strains, relative to the total count of E . coli , faecal coliforms and other heterotrophic mesophilic aerobic bacteria ( HMAB ) isolated in groundwater in the equatorial region of C ameroon ( C entral A frica). Bacteria were isolated using standard methods. Pathogenic E . coli strains were then identified using haemagglutination and antisera tests. The maximum abundance of HMAB , faecal coliforms and E . coli strains were 4.9 × 10 6 , 5.6 × 10 3 and 1 × 10 3 colony‐forming units ( CFU )/100 mL , respectively. The count of pathogenic E . coli strains reached 3 CFU /100 mL . The counts of commensal and pathogenic E . coli strains underwent temporal and spatial fluctuations. In 21% of sampling sites, the abundance of faecal coliforms was significantly correlated to that of E . coli ( P < 0.05). However, the isolated bacterial count was not significantly correlated to that of the pathogenic E . coli strains ( P > 0.05). The bacteria abundance dynamics may be impacted by many interacting factors.