Bandara S M T V, Wijerathna P A K C, Liyanage Gayani Yasodara, Pathirage S, Manage Pathmalal
Centre for Water Quality and Algae Research, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda,10250, Sri Lanka.
Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda, 10250, Sri Lanka.
J Water Health. 2025 Jul;23(7):861-876. doi: 10.2166/wh.2025.353. Epub 2025 Jun 23.
The contamination of coastal water with Shiga-toxin-producing (STEC) and Enteropathogenic (EPEC) poses a significant risk to human health as they are causing severe gastroenteritis diseases. This study focused on detecting Enterohaemorrhagic (EHEC) and STEC in coastal waters along the southern coastal belt in Sri Lanka. Water samples (n=66) from 22 sampling locations were collected, and the virulent genes, eae, and , were selected for the screening of EHEC and STEC. Amplification was done through optimized PCR protocols. Further, the water quality was measured in terms of N-NO, N-NO, N-NH, Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphate and COD in selected locations following the APHA standard methods. The findings indicate the presence of EHEC and STEC in some locations of the southern coast belt, which are popular for tourism and recreational activities. STEC were detected at 45.45% of sampling locations in the southern coastal belt of Sri Lanka, while EHEC was detected at 54.54%. Further, the recorded water quality values for N-NO, N-NO, N-NH, Total Nitrogen, Total Phosphate and COD ranged from 0.30 to 3.48 mg/L, 0 to 0.64 mg/L, 0.03 to 2.39 mg/L, 0.48 to 4.31mg/L, 0.06 to 3.17mg/L and 584 to 679mg/L, respectively.
产志贺毒素大肠杆菌（STEC）和肠致病性大肠杆菌（EPEC）污染沿海水域对人类健康构成重大风险，因为它们会引发严重的肠胃炎疾病。本研究聚焦于检测斯里兰卡南部沿海地带沿海水域中的肠出血性大肠杆菌（EHEC）和产志贺毒素大肠杆菌（STEC）。采集了来自22个采样地点的66份水样，并选择毒力基因eae和stx进行EHEC和STEC的筛查。通过优化的聚合酶链反应（PCR）方案进行扩增。此外，按照美国公共卫生协会（APHA）标准方法，在选定地点测定了水质的亚硝酸盐氮（N-NO₂）、硝酸盐氮（N-NO₃）、氨氮（N-NH₃）、总氮、总磷和化学需氧量（COD）。研究结果表明，在南部海岸带一些以旅游和娱乐活动闻名的地点存在EHEC和STEC。在斯里兰卡南部沿海带45.45%的采样地点检测到了产志贺毒素大肠杆菌（STEC），而肠出血性大肠杆菌（EHEC）的检测率为54.54%。此外，记录的亚硝酸盐氮（N-NO₂）、硝酸盐氮（N-NO₃）、氨氮（N-NH₃）、总氮、总磷和化学需氧量（COD）的水质值分别为0.30至3.48毫克/升、0至0.64毫克/升、0.03至2.39毫克/升、0.48至4.31毫克/升、0.06至3.17毫克/升和584至679毫克/升。
