Thermotolerant coliforms and antimicrobial resistance in soils and well waters pose a One Health risk in Curitibanos-SC
Keywords:
environmental contamination, antibiotics, groundwaterAbstract
Antibiotic resistance represents a growing threat to global public health, exacerbated by the
inappropriate use of these compounds in agriculture and livestock production. This study
assessed the presence of thermotolerant coliforms and their antibiotic resistance in soil and well
water samples from rural properties in Curitibanos, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Sampling was
conducted in December 2024 and February 2025, with microbiological analysis performed
using the Most Probable Number (MPN) method for water and serial dilution for soil.
Resistance was evaluated using the disk diffusion method with ampicillin, tetracycline, and
ciprofloxacin. All soil samples contained coliforms, with concentrations ranging from 921 to
32,108 CFU/g. In water samples, MPN values ranged from <10 to >1,100 per mL, with 75% of
the samples deemed unfit for consumption. The percentage of isolates resistant to ampicillin
was 93% in both environments, while resistance to tetracycline was 23% in soil and 7.5% in
water; no ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates were found in water. The data indicate persistent
contamination and the presence of resistant bacteria, underscoring the need for preventive
measures and environmental monitoring.
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