This study aimed to investigate the microbial contamination extent of water in El-Salam Canal (west of Suez Canal) as a result of mixing drainage water with Nile water.
Fungal species and coliforms including Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Shigella were isolated from ten sites of El-Salam Canal water in winter and summer (S1: Faraskour Dam, S2: Awlad hamam, S3: El-Serw drain, S4: After El-Serw drain, S5: El-Kelo 26.45 bridge, S6: El-Nasayma, S7: El-Asafra, S8: Hadous drain, S9: After Hadous drain and S10: Shader Azam). Thirteen fungal species isolated which were: Aspergillus awamorii, A. flavus, A. japonicus, A. niger, A. sydowii, A. terreus, A.ustus, Geotrichum sp, Humicola fucoastra, Penicillium nigricans, P. variable, Rhizobus sp, Trichoderma harzianum. Three bacterial species isolated which were: E. coli, Salmonella sp, Shigella sp. In winter, the highest fungal count was isolated from Farskour Dam (S1) but low diversity followed by Shader Azam (S10) with high number and diversity. However, in summer season, Shader Azam (S10) was polluted with the highest fungal count and diversity followed by El-Serw drain (S3). In winter season, Shader Azam (S10) was polluted with the highest total coliforms count followed by El-Serw drain (S3). However, in summer season, Farskour Dam (S1) was polluted with the highest total coliforms count followed by Awlad hamam (S2). The most common isolated fungal species Aspergillus flavus strain (Sh2) was identified by molecular method with accession number (OK393670), and the most common bacterial species Escherichia coli strain (Sh2) was also identified by molecular method with accession number (OK274267). In testing for aflatoxins production of A. flavus by using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), The results revealed that this strain was non-aflatoxin producer.
Key words: El-Salam Canal, Fungi, coliforms, E. coli, Aflatoxins, Molecular identification.
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