Kingsley Ehi Ebomah

Groundwater is a vital component of the water cycle that supports human activities and the ecosystem. Nevertheless, it is often overlooked as a hotspot for significant antimicrobial-resistant genes (ARGs) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). This is influenced by anthropogenic activities, untreated wastewater discharge, and industrial and agricultural processes. Water and contaminants move between aquifers, streams, and springs. and rivers within the hyporheic zones. Rainfall can enhance the concentration level of ARG contaminants in groundwater, which acts as a major source of drinking water for billions of people worldwide. The chapter emphasizes the necessity of integrating groundwater microbial resistome data into river basin management (RBM) for a better understanding of the origin, risks, and pathways of AMR at a basin scale. Furthermore, molecular and metagenomic tools enable more comprehensive detection and monitoring of resistance in environmental systems. The monitoring programs should be prioritized by officials to detect emerging AMR hotspots and track the occurrence of ARGs over time. The lack of standardized methods for detection contributes to existing limitations. The contamination of microbial systems brings the accumulation of various pathogens and potentially leads to other modified inorganic pollutants. The integration of environmental data with public health and water governance demonstrates that a One Health–based, integrated approach can improve risk assessment, support informed decision-making, and enhance strategies to mitigate AMR. This chapter is a conceptual synthesis and narrative review of the current status of AMR in groundwater, emphasizing the environmental drivers, public health implications, and policy considerations through the One Health approach.

Aquatic pollution is characterized by contaminants in waterbodies mostly because of microorganisms, oil, plastics and eutrophic contaminants occurring in components with rapid dissemination of both soluble and insoluble agents. Microbial responses to pollution, the role they play in biotransformation and bioremediation are indeed paramount. The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the primary microbial responses to oil, plastic and eutrophic contaminants. We explore their potential effects on the environment, highlighting key microbes involved in biotransformation and pollutant degradation. Enzymatic mechanisms and biochemical pathways are also discussed. The global challenges faced by ecosystems are reviewed and potential solutions are examined. The region is vulnerable to environmental abuse raising red flags in the efforts to heal wounds inflicted on the ecosystems. Finally, we discussed possible applications of biotransformation processes, providing insights to develop new ways of combating this problem, shedding light on various research directions and challenges.

Freshwater scarcity is a major global issue faced by various regions, and the most common portable water sources globally are estuaries, canals, dams, lakes, and rivers. Existing water resources function as the best sinks for the frequent release of effluents from industrial and residential activities. This common practice often results in water pollution, a deterioration in marine biodiversity, and possible health risks for human populations. This study employed standard analytical methods in assessing the physicochemical and microbial characteristics of water samples collected from the Sundays River estuary in Eastern Cape Province (ECP), South Africa (SA). Microbiological assessment revealed that during the spring season, presumptive Escherichia coli (E. coli) colony counts were 1 cfu/100 mL, while total coliforms (TCs) and fecal coliforms (FCs) were recorded at 42.67 cfu/100 mL and 1 cfu/100 mL, respectively. In the summer season, fecal coliform (FC) counts reached 3.5 cfu/100 mL, while Enterococcus levels were higher, ranging up to 77.75 cfu/100 mL. Furthermore, the average standards of physicochemical parameters assessed in water obtained from both spring and summer seasons ranged as follows: pH (8.71–9.31), temperature (20.98–22.21 °C), turbidity (10–35.55 FNU), total alkalinity (22.25–94.00 mg/L), oxidation–reduction potential (ORP) (8.05–151.6 mV), electrical conductivity (EC) (13,915–40,260 uS/cm), salinity (8.07–25.78 psu), dissolved oxygen (DO) (6.79–7.39 mg/L), total dissolved solids (TDSs) (6960.6–20,125 mg/L), and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (0.11–2.94 mg/L). The levels of TDS, EC, turbidity, and salinity in the Sundays River estuary water exceeded the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines of 2017, rendering the water unfit for even recreational purposes. Additionally, the bacterial levels identified in this study were above the values set by the South Africa Department of Water Affairs (SA-DWAF). The identified microorganisms are perceived as essential indicators of fecal contamination and have the potential to multiply in the environment. Possible pollution may be a result of various municipal effluents consistently discharged into the waterbody.

Vibrio spp. are associated with widespread outbreaks linked to contaminated water and seafood. They are naturally present in aquatic habitats, including seawater, brackish water and freshwater environments. These marine environments serve as key reservoirs of antimicrobial‐resistant genes, facilitating the transmission of antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria to marine animals and humans through the aquatic food chain. This review investigates the prevalence, virulence characteristics, detection methods and antibiotic resistance mechanisms of pathogenic Vibrio species found in fish and aquaculture environments. The literature published between 2016 and 2025 was gathered from PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar, using keywords related to Vibrio species, aquaculture, antibiotic resistance and fish health. The rising incidence of antimicrobial‐resistant Vibrio species poses a dual threat to aquaculture sustainability and public health. To reduce seafood contamination and health risks, particularly in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs), there is an urgent need for improved molecular diagnostic tools, targeted intervention strategies and enhanced surveillance. There is an urgent call for advanced molecular diagnostic tools, targeted interventions and enhanced surveillance to mitigate seafood contamination and associated health risks. The findings have vital implications for veterinary medicine, underscoring veterinarians’ roles in disease prevention, antimicrobial resistance monitoring and the promotion of responsible antibiotic use in aquaculture.

Several researchers have documented the occurrence of the unfamiliar severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 ribonucleic acid (also known as SARS-CoV-2 RNA) in various raw wastewater (WW) samples analyzed globally. The efficiency of strategic WW-based epidemiology (WBE) approach as a timely cautioning tool for human coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID) and other similar outbreaks is highly promising. This strategy offers a cost-effective, population-wide surveillance tool that can detect rising case trends, from days to weeks before clinical reports, thus enabling proactive public health interventions. This study aimed to detect the occurrence of the viral genome in WW over four seasons, which contributes to the database for multi-plant surveillance research in South Africa. About 480 WW influent samples were amassed from ten sampling points situated in nine wastewater treatment facilities (WWTFs) in Amathole District Municipality (ADM) located in the Province of Eastern Cape (EC), South Africa (SA). The study was carried out for a period of one year. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (i.e., RT-PCR) was operated to identify the viral genomes in the respective total RNA samples. Of the 480 extracted RNA samples, 210 (44%) were positive with viral genome copies (gc) that ranged from 700 to 40,000 GC/mL. Our results were contrasted with existing COVID-19-positive cases throughout the COVID omicron wave in the ECP. Variations in gc were observed across different seasons, with the highest GC observed in winter. In contrast, there were significant inconsistencies in the existing data of COVID-19 clinical cases, thus indicating no connection between both data. However, with more similar studies, advanced innovative WBE strategies could possibly act as prompt warning tools to signal public health officials about potential future outbreaks.

Influenza viruses pose a significant public health threat, necessitating comprehensive surveillance strategies to enhance early detection and preventive measures. This systematic review investigates the incidence of influenza viruses in wastewater matrices, aiming to elucidate the potential implications for public health. The study synthesizes existing literature, employing rigorous inclusion criteria to identify relevant studies conducted globally. The essence of the problem lies in the gaps of traditional surveillance methods, which often rely on clinical data and may underestimate the true prevalence of influenza within communities. Wastewater-based epidemiology offers a novel approach to supplementing these conventional methods, providing a broader and more representative assessment of viral circulation. This review systematically examines the methodologies employed in the selected studies, including virus concentration techniques and molecular detection methods, to establish a standardized framework for future research. Our findings reveal a consistent presence of influenza viruses in diverse wastewater matrices across different geographic locations and seasons. Recommendations for future research include the standardization of sampling protocols, improvement of virus concentration methods, and the integration of wastewater surveillance into existing public health frameworks. In conclusion, this systematic review contributes to the understanding of influenza dynamics in wastewater matrices, offering valuable insights for public health practitioners and policymakers. Implementation of wastewater surveillance alongside traditional methods can enhance the resilience of public health systems and better prepare communities for the challenges posed by influenza outbreaks.