Bacteroides phages recovered from human and animal faecal matrices in rural Kenya

This data describes the recovering and isolation processes of Bacteroides spp. strains from human and cattle faecal sources from rural areas in Siaya County (Kenya), and occurred between 7th and 28th of June 2018. The data also includes the detection of bacteriophages (infecting these Bacteroides spp. host strains) in conjunction with traditional faecal indicator organisms in water sources from Kisumu and Siaya County (Kenya) occurring between June 18th 2018 and June 13th 2019. Exact location (coordinates) of the sample points are also described in the data set. A microbiological technique using Bile Esculin Bacteroides (BBE) agar was used for the recovering and isolation processes of Bacteroides spp. strains. Standard ISO (7899-2, 9308-1, 10705-2 and 10705-4) techniques, such as membrane filtration and the double-agar-layer methods, were used for the detection of bacteriophages and traditional faecal indicator organisms. The purpose of data collection was to develop new markers that could identify cattle and/or human sources of faecal contamination, which could be used as part of a Microbial Source Tracking (MST) tool box. Technicians and researchers from the University of Brighton (UK), University of Southampton (UK), from the Victoria Institute for Research on Environment and Development (VIRED) (KE) and from the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) (KE) were responsible for the collection and interpretation of data. The data came into existence after three steps: firstly a field collection of cattle and human faecal material for the isolation and recovering of Bacteroides spp. host strains ; secondly laboratory work were performed for the isolation of those strains; and thirdly field and laboratory work were done for assessing levels of bacteriophages and faecal indicator organism in environmental waters. Besides basic PPE (e.g.: gloves, glasses,..), fieldwork instrumentation included sterile wooden spatulas and an adapted sampling pole for the collection of cattle and human faeces from water pan shorelines and school pit latrines, respectively. Faecal and water samples were contained in sterile plastic containers in cooler bags containing ice packs and transported to KEMRI Kisian laboratory within 4 hours of collection. In KEMRI Kisian laboratory a total of 10 (5 from cattle and 5 from human faeces) Bacteroides spp. strains were recovered, isolated and preserved (frozen) for posterior use. These recently isolated Bacteroides spp. were then used as hosts, in the double-agar-layer method, for the detection of bacteriophages in Kenyan water sources. The units used for the detection of bacteriophages and traditional faecal indicator organism were plaque and /or colony forming units per 1 mL or 100 mL of water sample (PFU / 1 mL; PFU / 100 mL and CFU / 100 mL). Calibration of laboratory instrumentation as well as the use of blank samples (distilled water) were employed as data quality controls.