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Determination of the Microbial and Chemical Loads in Rivers from the Quito Capital Province of Ecuador (Pichincha)—A Preliminary Analysis of Microbial and Chemical Quality of the Main Rivers

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  • Pamela Borja-Serrano

    (Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales (COCIBA), Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Diego de Robles y Vía Interoceánica, Campus Cumbayá, Casilla Postal 17-1200-841, Quito 170901, Ecuador)

  • Valeria Ochoa-Herrera

    (Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales (COCIBA), Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Diego de Robles y Vía Interoceánica, Campus Cumbayá, Casilla Postal 17-1200-841, Quito 170901, Ecuador
    Colegio de Ciencias e Ingeniería, El Politécnico, Instituto Biósfera, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador
    Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA)

  • Laurence Maurice

    (Geosciences Environnement Toulouse, CNRS/IRD/CNES/Université Paul Sabatier, 14 avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France
    Área de Salud de la Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, Toledo N22-80, P.O. Box 17-12-569, Quito 170143, Ecuador)

  • Gabriela Morales

    (Colegio de Ciencias e Ingeniería, El Politécnico, Instituto Biósfera, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador)

  • Cristian Quilumbaqui

    (Colegio de Ciencias e Ingeniería, El Politécnico, Instituto Biósfera, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170901, Ecuador)

  • Eduardo Tejera

    (Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Grupo de Bioquimioinformática, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170125, Ecuador)

  • António Machado

    (Instituto de Microbiología, Colegio de Ciencias Biológicas y Ambientales (COCIBA), Universidad San Francisco de Quito (USFQ), Diego de Robles y Vía Interoceánica, Campus Cumbayá, Casilla Postal 17-1200-841, Quito 170901, Ecuador)

Abstract

Contamination of natural water sources is one of the main health problems worldwide, which could be caused by chemicals, metals, or microbial agents. This study aimed to analyze the quality of 18 rivers located in Quito, the capital province of Pichincha, Ecuador, through physico-chemical and microbial parameters. The E. coli and total coliforms assessments were performed by a counting procedure in growth media. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was realized to detect several microbial genera, as well as Candida albicans , two parasites ( Cryptosporidium and Giardia spp.) and E. coli pathotypes: enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). Additionally, physico-chemical parameters and major and trace metals were analyzed in each surface water sample. Our results demonstrated that most of the rivers analyzed do not comply with the microbial, physico-chemical, and metal requirements established by the Ecuadorian legislation. In terms of microbial pollution, the most polluted rivers were Monjas, Machángara, Pisque, and Pita Rivers. Furthermore, three out of four analyzed E. coli pathotypes (EIEC, EHEC, and EAEC) were detected in certain rivers, specifically: Monjas River showed the presence of EIEC and EHEC; in the Machángara River, EAEC and EIEC were detected; and finally, EIEC was present in the Guayllabamba River. Several physico-chemical parameters, such as pH, COD total , and TSS values, were higher than the Ecuadorian guidelines in 11, 28, and 28% of the rivers, respectively. Regarding heavy metals, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Mn surpassed the established values in 94, 89, 61, 22, 22, and 17% of the rivers, respectively. Machangara River was the only one that registered higher Cr concentrations than the national guidelines. The values of Al and Fe were above the recommended values in 83 and 72% of the rivers. Overall, based on the physical-chemical and microbiological parameters the most contaminated rivers were Machángara and Monjas. This study revealed severe contaminations in Ecuadorean Rivers; further studies should evaluate the sources of contamination and their impact on public health.

Suggested Citation

  • Pamela Borja-Serrano & Valeria Ochoa-Herrera & Laurence Maurice & Gabriela Morales & Cristian Quilumbaqui & Eduardo Tejera & António Machado, 2020. "Determination of the Microbial and Chemical Loads in Rivers from the Quito Capital Province of Ecuador (Pichincha)—A Preliminary Analysis of Microbial and Chemical Quality of the Main Rivers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-26, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:14:p:5048-:d:384104
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nolonwabo Nontongana & Timothy Sibanda & Elvis Ngwenya & Anthony I. Okoh, 2014. "Prevalence and Antibiogram Profiling of Escherichia coli Pathotypes Isolated from the Kat River and the Fort Beaufort Abstraction Water," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(8), pages 1-15, August.
    2. Kingsley Ehi Ebomah & Martins Ajibade Adefisoye & Anthony Ifeanyi Okoh, 2018. "Pathogenic Escherichia coli Strains Recovered from Selected Aquatic Resources in the Eastern Cape, South Africa, and Its Significance to Public Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-10, July.
    3. Vicente Fretes-Cibils & Marcelo M. Giugale & José Roberto López-Cálix, 2003. "Ecuador : An Economic and Social Agenda in the New Millennium," World Bank Publications - Reports 14613, The World Bank Group.
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