Microbial Analysis of Water at Calajunan Dumpsite, Iloilo

Hi, everyone! I am Aquille Sampiano, taking up BS Biology, 4th year. I am currently doing my undergraduate thesis entitled "Microbial Analysis of Water and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Escherichia coli from Groundwater Sources at Calajunan dumpsite, Iloilo".

The Calajunan open landfill, is a 23- hectare open landfill owned by the government. However, due to excessive dumping of waste, almost 1/4 of the land has already been filled with trash. In line with this, contamination of groundwater from different groundwater sources around the area posses a threat to the health of the people residing around the landfill.

E.coli is a gram negative bacterium commonly found in the lower intestine of warm-blooded animals. Harmful E.coli strains produce a powerful toxin that can cause severe illness. The bacteria can be found on a small number of cattle farms and can live in the intestines of healthy cattle. E.coli infection often causes severe bloody diarrhea and abdominal cramps. However, sometimes the infection causes non-bloody diarrhea or no symptoms at all. Usually there is little or no fever, and the illness goes away in 5-10 days. In some persons, particularly children under 5 years of age and the elderly, the infection can also cause a complication called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which causes kidney failure (Alonsabe, 2009)

The aim of this study is to determine the amount of colliforms present in different groundwater sources around the landfill, to determine if the water is potable or not, and to test E.coli species in different antibiotics to determine their resistance profile. The study can help locate the contaminated water sources and do the necessary measures to treat such to prevent different diseases brought by harmful E.coli strains. However, due to the expensive prices different materials such as the culture media, I am having trouble pushing my study.

Financial support is greatly appreciated. Thank you very much.

If you have any question, do not hesitate to reach me at [email protected]