Ibn Zohr University | Faculty of Sciences | department of biology | Microbial Biotechnology and Plant Protection Laboratory | Agadir | Morocco |
This article is made freely available as part of this journal's Open Access: ID|Brahim–Ref20-ajira071020|
ABSTRACT
Background: Agadir city (Morocco) is located in a semi-arid area, surface water resources are scarce and ever-increasing demand for irrigation water leads to the overpumping of groundwater. The use of treated wastewater for irrigation of agricultural lands and urban landscapes contribute to the preservation of freshwater reservoirs. However, this practice could result in a microbiological contamination risk to soil and vegetation. Pathogenic Vibrios frequently detected in wastewater has emerged as a serious threat to human health. The present study was initiated to evaluate the eventual occurrence of potentially pathogenic. Methods: Vibrio species were searched in a golf course (GW) irrigated with treated wastewater. In order to better assess risks due to the use of treated wastewater, another golf course (GG) irrigated with groundwater was served as the control. From January to August 2016, groundwater, treated wastewater, turfgrass, and soil samples were collected and analyzed. 162 presumptive Vibrio organisms were isolated on TCBS agar plates and tested by PCR. Results: The result showed that all positive Vibrio strains were isolated from GW and from the wastewater treatment plant, while all samples taken from GG were negative for the species studied. 64 (67%) isolates were positive for V. cholerae, 30 (31%) for V. alginolyticus, and 2 (2%) for V. parahaemolyticus. Vibrio strains were detected much higher in treated wastewater (44%) than in the soil (27%), turfgrass (18%), and groundwater (11%). All V. cholerae strains were negative for the ctxA gene. Likewise, V. parahaemolyticus strains were also negative for tdh and trh genes. Conclusion: In conclusion, the irrigation of GW with treated wastewater has led to contamination of soil and turfgrass with Vibrio spp. The contamination was seemingly due to the presence of these bacteria in irrigation water. Keywords: Golf course, Irrigation, Treated wastewater, Pathogenic Vibrio
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