Spatiotemporal variations in the occurrence of Campylobacter s pecies in the Bloukrans and Swartkops rivers, Eastern Cape, South Africa

An increase in the incidence of species in rivers raises concerns on the safety of river water for humans who get exposed to river water. This study examines the spatiotemporal dynamics of species in the Bloukrans and Swartkops rivers, analysing patterns of its occurrence in relation to meteorological conditions, physicochemical parameters, seasons, and sampling sites. Physico-chemical parameters and meteorological conditions were measured during water sampling from various sites along the rivers over a year, while Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was utilised to detect genus-specific genes and selected antibiotic-resistant genes. was detected in 66.67% (Bloukrans River) and 58.33% (Swartkops River). In the Bloukrans River, multi-drug resistance genes (20%), (65%), (10%), were detected while and was detected at 70%. In the Swartkops River, the corresponding prevalence were 28%, 66.67%, 28.56%, and 76%. The study indicates that sampling season did not significantly impact prevalence. However, variation in occurrence exists among different sites along the rivers, reflecting the influence of site proximity to potential contamination sources. The study suggests that infection may be endemic in South Africa, with rivers serving as potential sources of exposure to humans, thereby contributing to the epidemiology of campylobacteriosis.