Antibiotic profiling of Salmonella species isolated from Bagmati River, Kathmandu, Nepal

With rapid population growth, unmanaged urbanization, and industrialization, the holy river Bagmati, has become one of the most contaminated water sources in Kathmandu, Nepal. As a result, the river has lost its capacity for self-purification and became ideal habitat for many pathogenic microorganisms such as E. coli, Salmonella, Vibrio, etc. The study aimed to perform the antibiogram profile of Salmonella species. According to the findings, Salmonella was identified in excessively polluted areas with sewage. Out of total 55 samples, 34.45% were Salmonella positive among which, 10.5% were found to be S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi, and the remaining 79% were found to be other S. enterica serovar. S. enterica serovar was detected in abundance from site B1. Site B2 yielded Salmonella Typhi and Salmonella Paratyphi isolates. Furthermore, Salmonella Paratyphi was isolated from Site B3. The water samples from Site B6 were proven to be Salmonella-free. Antibiotic Susceptibility Test was performed for the positive samples and all the serovars were found sensitive to Amikacin whereas least sensitive to Ampicillin i.e., 86.67%, 100%, and 50% resistant in case of other S. enterica serovar, S. Typhi and S. Paratyphi respectively. All the Salmonella species isolates were sensitive to Ciprofloxacin, Streptomycin, Ofloxacin, and Nitrofurantoin but 100 % resistant to Ampicillin. However, there is not a single data reported as Multi-Drug Resistant Salmonella species in this study. The study emphasized the use of effective treatments against the disease and addresses the health danger to people, animals, and many other living species living nearby the river.