Contamination of potable water by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli: qPCR based culture-free detection and quantification

Tourists visiting to endemic zones may acquire Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) infection resulting into diarrhea due to consumption of contaminated potable waters. In this study, a qPCR assay (SYBR Green), targeting LT1 and ST1 genes was designed to quantify ETEC in potable waters derived from civic water supply. The assay could detect lowest 1 CFU/PCR targeting LT1/ST1 gene from ten-fold diluted culture of the reference strain (E. coli MTCC 723) and is ten-fold more sensitive than the conventional PCR. The quantification of the ETEC in potable waters collected from civic supply of a major city of the northern India exhibiting high flow of tourists reveals that all the sites that ran along sewage line were contaminated by the ETEC. Contamination was due to percolation of sewage. The assay could be used for the regular monitoring of potable water in places exhibiting heavy flow of tourists to prevent ETEC induced diarrhea.

► South Asia exhibits high endemicity for the ETEC.
► Tourists in endemic zones may acquire infection from contaminated potable waters.
► We have quantified ETEC in potable waters by qPCR assay targeting LT1 and ST1.
► Assay could be used in monitoring potable water in high tourists laden areas.