Epidemiological trends in pathogens from the 2012 Thai flooding disaster

Abstract

Fungi and bacteria in water samples taken from various flooded areas in Narathiwat Province, Thailand, were investigated. They were isolated by filtration from water samples, and identified by examining macroscopic and microscopic features for fungi and using biochemical methods for bacteria. Nine species of filamentous fungi and two yeast species were isolated. Water contaminated with dermatophytes contained Trichophyton mentagrophytes (44%), Trichophyton rubrum (19%) and Microsporum canis (15%). The yeast Candida albicans was also found (75.5%). Water samples were contaminated with fungi, identified as non-cutaneous mycoses. The dominant fungi were Aspergillus niger (73%), Cladosporium spp. (58%) and Aspergillus flavus (41%). Thirteen bacterial strains were isolated from the samples; Gram-negative bacteria were most prevalent. The three dominant Gramnegative bacteria were Escherichia coli (62.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (61%) and Enterobacter spp. (59.5%). The two most abundant Gram-positive bacteria were Corynebacterium spp. (59.5%) and Bacillus spp. (not Bacillus cereus) (52.5%). These results suggest contaminated flood areas may be a transmission route for pathogens, and increase the risk of abnormal skin conditions among people exposed to the area.