Metal pollutants distribution within lake Victoria basin and their influence on the native and transient microbial flora
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Date
2014-04
Authors
Okemo, Paul
Hamadi, Boga
Mutuku, Christopher
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Asian Research Publishing Network
Abstract
Heavy metal concentrations in water and sediments in the rivers draining into the Lake Victoria were determined
in this study. The metal levels were compared to the bacterial plate counts and bacterial resistance to commonly used
antibiotics assessed. The samples were randomly collected from sewage outfalls and points bordering heavy metal activity
settlements. Heavy metal analysis was done using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometer (F-AAS). The samples were
assayed for native heterotrophic bacteria and coliforms. Sediment samples recorded a higher level of heavy metals with a
mean range of 31.97-109.9, lead; 3.48-183.66, zinc; 3.01-17.03, nickel; 1.93-214.61, copper; 17.01-65.91, cobalt; and
2.08-25.89 mg/g chromium compared to water samples whose mean range was as follows;- lead; 0.77-0.94, manganese;
0.10-3.10, zinc; 0.23-1.16, cadmium 0.02-0.04, and copper 0.51-0.57 mg/l. The study showed a significant relationship in
the amounts of heavy metals in water samples and the bacterial counts, r = 0.637, p < 0.05. 53.8% of the isolates showed
multidrug resistance. The study showed no significant difference in multidrug resistance between the native heterotrophs
and the coliform bacteria (F =1.75 P = 0.191 P > 0.05). However, multidrug resistance in heterotrophic bacteria (mean
46.52%) was higher than in coliform bacteria (mean 36.36%). Plasmid DNA finger print of the antibiotic resistant isolates
showed a positive relationship between the plasmids carried and multidrug resistance. This could suggest that heavy metal
pollution in wetlands induces multidrug resistance. The findings point to a potential health threat posed by heavy metal
pollution to human and other forms of life in the aquatic ecosystems.
Description
Journal Article
Keywords
antibiotic resistance, bacterial isolates, pollution, heavy metals
Citation
ARPN Journal of Agricultural and Biological Science VOL. 9, NO. 4, APRIL 2014 ISSN 1990-6145