ERIC and RAPD PCR-based DNA fingerprinting techniques application for microbial source tracking (MST) at Al-Madinah Al-Munwwarah, KSA

Escherichia coli 1 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia were repeatedly isolated from hospitals, haemodialysis wastewater and different drinking water sources at Al-Madinah Al-Mounwwarah city, (previous work for the authors). The present study investigated 4 strains; E.coli 1 and S. maltophilia, one of each was isolated from hospitals wastewater and the others from drinking water, based upon API 20 E identification protocol, antibiotic-resistance and plasmid profiles. Their plasmids were also found genetically-affiliated based on restriction analysis preliminary mapping, and PCR-based techniques (ERIC and RAPD); as recommended tools for partial fingerprinting. Results elucidated 60–70% identical regions on their plasmids. The two S. maltophilia and two E.coli isolates are almost the same. These findings may nominate, or at least pen point hospitals wastewater to be one of the main sources contaminating drinking water with bacteria at Al-Madinah Al-Munwwarah city. Not least important is the high degree of similarity between the plasmids isolated from the two E. coli 1 strains in one hand and the two S. maltophilia on the other. This may prove the vertical and horizontal gene ecology concept and strengthen the ring between hospital wastewater and the environment.