Tetracycline-Resistant Bacteria Selected from Water and Zebrafish after Antibiotic Exposure. - Related Documents




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529301.0000Tetracycline-Resistant Bacteria Selected from Water and Zebrafish after Antibiotic Exposure. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens due to worldwide antibiotic use is raising concern in several settings, including aquaculture. In this work, the selection of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was evaluated after exposure of zebrafish to oxytetracycline (OTC) for two months, followed by a recovery period. The selection of ARB in water and fish was determined using selective media. The abundance of tetA genes was estimated through qPCR. Higher prevalence of ARB was measured in all samples exposed to the antibiotic when compared to control samples, although statistical significance was only achieved five days after exposure. Isolates recovered from samples exposed to the antibiotic were affiliated with Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas. Various antibiotic susceptibility profiles were detected and 37% of the isolates displayed multidrug resistance (MDR). The selection of the tetA gene was confirmed by qPCR at the highest OTC concentration tested. Two MDR isolates, tested using zebrafish embryos, caused significant mortality, indicating a potential impact on fish health and survival. Overall, our work highlights the potential impact of antibiotic contamination in the selection of potential pathogenic ARB and ARGS.202133804606
532610.9999The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria at four Norwegian wastewater treatment plants: seasonal and wastewater-source effects. Wastewater treatment plants receive low concentrations of antibiotics. Residual concentrations of antibiotics in the effluent may accelerate the development of antibiotic resistance in the receiving environments. Monitoring of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in countries with strict regulation of antibiotic use is important in gaining knowledge of how effective these policies are in preventing the emergence of ARGs or whether other strategies are required, for example, at-source treatment of hospital effluents. This study evaluates the presence of certain common resistance genes (bla (SHV-1), bla (TEM-1), msrA, ermA, ermC, tetM, tetL, tetA, vanA, and vanC) in the influent, sludge, and effluent of four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the North Jæren region of Norway at two different sampling times (January and May). These WWTPs vary in drainage area and wastewater composition and were selected based on their differing wastewater characteristics. Randomly selected colonies from the activated sludge samples were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for ampicillin, vancomycin, and tetracycline. In addition, variations in the bacterial composition of the wastewater were characterized via 16S rRNA sequencing and were analyzed in terms of bacterial host taxa that explain the presence of the ARGs in wastewater. The MIC tests revealed MIC(90) values of >128 µg/mL for ampicillin, ≥128 µg/mL for vancomycin, and 32 µg/mL for tetracycline. In addition, the three resistance genes, ermB, tetA, and tetM, that were present in the influent and activated sludge were still present in the effluent. These results indicate that WWTPs represent a direct route into the environment for resistance genes and do not significantly reduce their abundance. Hence, the development of treatment methods for the removal of these genes from WWTPs in the future is of utmost importance.202439816252
529220.9999Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Hydroponic Lettuce in Retail: A Comparative Survey. Hydroponic produce is gaining popularity due to its suitability for urban agriculture. The general public also considers that hydroponic produce is free from microbiological contamination. In this study, we compared the frequency and abundance of tetracycline-resistant and sulphadiazine-resistant bacteria and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of these isolates in conventional, organic, and hydroponic lettuce sold in retail. We also determined the frequency of samples carrying tetB, tetX, sul1, sul2, and int1 genes by PCR and further quantified the copy number of tetX, sul1, and int1 genes in samples positive for these genes using qPCR. As expected, the number of resistant bacteria and the MICs of these isolates were lowest in hydroponic lettuce and highest in organic lettuce. All tested resistant genes, except int1, were detected in samples of all three production methods, but no significant difference was observed between the three groups in the frequency of samples carrying the resistance genes examined or in their copy number. To the best of our knowledge, it is the first study directly reporting the existence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes in hydroponic vegetables sold in retail. The result highlights that the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria contamination in hydroponic produce should be further investigated.202032967196
343330.9999Effect of subinhibitory concentrations on the spreading of the ampicillin resistance gene bla(CMY-2) in an activated sludge microcosm. As the problem of multi-resistant bacteria grows a better understanding of the spread of antibiotic resistance genes is of utmost importance for society. Wastewater treatment plants contain subinhibitory concentrations of antibiotics and are thought to be hotspots for antibiotic resistance gene propagation. Here we evaluate the influence of sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics on the spread of resistance genes within the bacterial community in activated sludge laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactors. The mixed communities were fed two different ampicillin concentrations (500 and 5000 µg/L) and the reactors were run and monitored for 30 days. During the experiment the β-lactamase resistance gene bla(CMY-2) was monitored via qPCR and DNA samples were taken to monitor the effect of ampicillin on the microbial community. The relative copy number of bla(CMY-2) in the reactor fed with the sub-minimum inhibitory concentration of 500 µg/L ampicillin was spread out over a wider range of values than the control and 5000 µg/L ampicillin reactors indicating more variability of gene number in the 500 µg/L reactor. This result emphasises the problem of sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics in wastewater. High-throughput sequencing showed that continuous exposure to ampicillin caused a shift from a Bacteroidetes to Proteobacteria in the bacterial community. The combined use of qPCR and high-throughput sequencing showed that ampicillin stimulates the spread of resistance genes and leads to the propagation of microbial populations which are resistant to it.202539215485
535440.9999Cultivation-dependent and high-throughput sequencing approaches studying the co-occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes in municipal sewage system. During the past years, antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) leading for the spreading of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) became a global problem, especially multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are considered the prime culprit of antibiotic resistance. However, the correlation between the antibiotic-resistant phenotype and the ARG profiles remains poorly understood. In the present study, metagenomic functional screening and metagenomic analysis of coliforms were combined to explore the phenotype and genotype of the ARBs from municipal sewage. Our results showed that the ARG co-occurrence was widespread in the municipal sewage. The present study also highlighted the high abundance of ARGs from antibiotic resistance coliforms especially the MDR coliforms with ARG level of 33.8 ± 4.2 copies per cell. The ARG profiles and the antibiotic resistance phenotypes of the isolated antibiotic resistant coliforms were also correlated and indicated that the resistance to the related antibiotic (ampicillin, kanamycin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline) was mostly contributed by the ARGs belonging to the subtypes of β-lactamase, aminoglycoside 3-phosphotransferase, phosphotransferase type 2, chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, tetA, etc.201729034431
343050.9999Benzalkonium chloride alters phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance profiles in a source water used for drinking water treatment. Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern. Triclosan is an antimicrobial compound with direct links to antibiotic resistance that was widely used in soaps in the U.S. until its ban by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Benzalkonium chloride (BAC), a quaternary ammonium compound, has widely replaced triclosan in soaps marketed as an antibacterial. BAC has been detected in surface waters and its presence will likely increase following increased use in soap products. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of BAC on relative abundance of antibiotic resistance in a bacterial community from a surface water used as a source for drinking water treatment. Bench-scale microcosm experiments were conducted with microbial communities amended with BAC at concentrations ranging from 0.1 μg L(-1) to 500 μg L(-1). Phenotypic antibiotic resistance was quantified by culturing bacteria in the presence of different antibiotics, and genotypic resistance was determined using qPCR to quantify antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). BAC at concentrations ranging from 0.1 μg L(-1) to 500 μg L(-1) was found to positively select for bacteria resistant to ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole, and negatively select against bacteria with resistance to six other antibiotics. Exposure to BAC for 14 days increased the relative abundance of sul1 and bla(TEM). This study re-highlights the importance of employing both culture and non-culture-based techniques to identify selection for antibiotic resistance. The widespread use of BAC will likely impact antibiotic resistance profiles of bacteria in the environment, including in source waters used for drinking water, wastewater treatment plants, and natural waterways.202031767233
342360.9999bla(TEM) and vanA as indicator genes of antibiotic resistance contamination in a hospital-urban wastewater treatment plant system. Four indicator genes were monitored by quantitative PCR in hospital effluent (HE) and in the raw and treated wastewater of the municipal wastewater treatment plant receiving the hospital discharge. The indicator genes were the class 1 integrase gene intI1, to assess the capacity of bacteria to be involved in horizontal gene transfer processes; bla(TEM), one of the most widespread antibiotic resistance genes in the environment, associated with Enterobacteriaceae; vanA, an antibiotic resistance gene uncommon in the environment and frequent in clinical isolates; and marA, part of a locus related to the stress response in Enterobacteriaceae. Variation in the abundance of these genes was analysed as a function of the type of water, and possible correlations with cultivable bacteria, antimicrobial residue concentrations, and bacterial community composition and structure were analysed. HE was confirmed as an important source of bla(TEM) and vanA genes, and wastewater treatment showed a limited capacity to remove these resistance genes. The genes bla(TEM) and vanA presented the strongest correlations with culturable bacteria, antimicrobial residues and some bacterial populations, representing interesting candidates as indicator genes to monitor resistance in environmental samples. The intI1 gene was the most abundant in all samples, demonstrating that wastewater bacterial populations hold a high potential for gene acquisition.201427873693
328270.9999Detection of Antibiotic-Resistance Genes in Drinking Water: A Study at a University in the Peruvian Amazon. This study investigated the presence of antibiotic-resistance genes in drinking water consumed by the university community in the Peruvian Amazon. Water samples were collected from three primary sources: inflow from the distribution network, a storage cistern, and an underground intake. Conventional PCR was employed to detect genes associated with resistance to erythromycin (ermC), ampicillin (amp), ciprofloxacin (QEP), multidrug resistance (marA), and specific multidrug resistance in E. coli (qEmarA). Physicochemical analysis revealed compliance with most regulatory standards; however, groundwater samples showed lead concentrations exceeding legal limits (0.72 mg/L) and lacked residual chlorine. All sampling points tested positive for the evaluated resistance genes, demonstrating the widespread dissemination of resistance factors in drinking water. Contrary to initial expectations, resistance genes were also prevalent in treated sources. These findings reveal a critical public health risk for the university community, emphasising the need for effective disinfection systems and robust monitoring protocols to ensure water safety. The presence of these resistance genes in water is a critical public health concern as it can facilitate the spread of resistant bacteria, reducing the effectiveness of medical treatments and increasing the risk of infections that are difficult to control.202540238426
368480.9999Minimal selective concentrations of tetracycline in complex aquatic bacterial biofilms. Selection pressure generated by antibiotics released into the environment could enrich for antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic resistant bacteria, thereby increasing the risk for transmission to humans and animals. Tetracyclines comprise an antibiotic class of great importance to both human and animal health. Accordingly, residues of tetracycline are commonly detected in aquatic environments. To assess if tetracycline pollution in aquatic environments promotes development of resistance, we determined minimal selective concentrations (MSCs) in biofilms of complex aquatic bacterial communities using both phenotypic and genotypic assays. Tetracycline significantly increased the relative abundance of resistant bacteria at 10 μg/L, while specific tet genes (tetA and tetG) increased significantly at the lowest concentration tested (1 μg/L). Taxonomic composition of the biofilm communities was altered with increasing tetracycline concentrations. Metagenomic analysis revealed a concurrent increase of several tet genes and a range of other genes providing resistance to different classes of antibiotics (e.g. cmlA, floR, sul1, and mphA), indicating potential for co-selection. Consequently, MSCs for the tet genes of ≤ 1 μg/L suggests that current exposure levels in e.g. sewage treatment plants could be sufficient to promote resistance. The methodology used here to assess MSCs could be applied in risk assessment of other antibiotics as well.201626938321
367890.9999Abundance and dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes and integrons in lake sediment microcosms. Antibiotic resistance in bacteria causing disease is an ever growing threat to the world. Recently, environmental bacteria have become established as important both as sources of antibiotic resistance genes and in disseminating resistance genes. Low levels of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals are regularly released into water environments via wastewater, and the concern is that such environmental contamination may serve to create hotspots for antibiotic resistance gene selection and dissemination. In this study, microcosms were created from water and sediments gathered from a lake in Sweden only lightly affected by human activities. The microcosms were exposed to a mixture of antibiotics of varying environmentally relevant concentrations (i.e., concentrations commonly encountered in wastewaters) in order to investigate the effect of low levels of antibiotics on antibiotic resistance gene abundances and dynamics in a previously uncontaminated environment. Antibiotic concentrations were measured using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Abundances of seven antibiotic resistance genes and the class 1 integron integrase gene, intI1, were quantified using real-time PCR. Resistance genes sulI and ermB were quantified in the microcosm sediments with mean abundances 5 and 15 gene copies/10(6) 16S rRNA gene copies, respectively. Class 1 integrons were determined in the sediments with a mean concentration of 3.8 × 10(4) copies/106 16S rRNA gene copies. The antibiotic treatment had no observable effect on antibiotic resistance gene or integron abundances.201425247418
3378100.9999Antibiotic-resistant bacteria in hospital wastewater treatment plant effluent and the possible consequences of its reuse in agricultural irrigation. Wastewater from hospitals should be monitored precisely and treated properly before discharge and reuse to avoid epidemic and pandemic complications, as it contains hazardous pollutants for the ecosystem. Antibiotic residues in treated hospital wastewater effluents constitute a major environmental concern since they resist various wastewater treatment processes. The emergence and spread of multi-drug-resistant bacteria, that cause public health problems, are therefore always a major concern. The aims and objectives of this study were mainly to characterize the chemical and microbial properties of the hospital effluent of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) before discharge to the environment. Special attention was paid to the presence of multiple resistant bacteria and the effects of hospital effluent reuse in irrigation on zucchini as an economically important plant. The risk of cell-free DNA carrying antibiotic resistance genes contained in the hospital effluent as a long-lasting hazard had been discussed. In this study, 21 bacterial strains were isolated from the effluent of a hospital WWTP. Isolated bacteria were evaluated for multi-drug resistance ability against 5 antibiotics (Tetracycline, Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, Chloramphenicol, and Erythromycin) at a concentration of 25 ppm. Out of them, three isolates (AH-03, AH-07, and AH-13) were selected because they recorded the highest growth in presence of tested antibiotics. Selected isolates were identified using 16S rRNA gene sequence homology as Staphylococcus haemolyticus (AH-03), Enterococcus faecalis (AH-07), and Escherichia coli (AH-13). Their susceptibility to ascending concentrations of tested antibiotics indicated that they were all susceptible at a concentration above 50 ppm. Results of the greenhouse experiment regarding the effect of hospital WWTP effluent reuse on zucchini plant fresh weights compared to that irrigated with fresh water indicated that the former recorded a limited increase in total fresh weights (6.2 g and 5.3 g/plant, respectively). Our results demonstrated the low impact of the reuse of Hospital WWTP effluent in agriculture irrigation compared to its greater risk in transferring multiple antibiotic bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes to soil bacteria through natural transformation.202337143530
7121110.9999Fate of fluoroquinolones in field soil environment after incorporation of poultry litter from a farm with enrofloxacin administration via drinking water. The practice of incorporating animal manure into soil is supported within the European Circular economy as a possible substitute for mineral fertilizers and will become crucial for the sustainability of agriculture. However, this practice may indirectly contribute to the dissemination of antibiotics, resistance bacteria, and resistance genes. In this study, medicated drinking water and poultry litter samples were obtained from a broiler-chick farm. The obtained poultry litter was incorporated into the soil at the experimental field site. The objectives of this research project were first to develop analytical methods able to quantify fluoroquinolones (FQs) in medicated drinking water, poultry litter, and soil samples by LC-MS; second to study the fate of these FQs in the soil environment after incorporation of poultry litter from flock medicated by enrofloxacin (ENR); and third to screen the occurrence of selected fluoroquinolone resistance encoding genes in poultry litter and soil samples (PCR analysis). FQs were quantified in the broiler farm's medicated drinking water (41.0 ± 0.3 mg∙L(-1) of ENR) and poultry litter (up to 70 mg∙kg(-1) of FQs). The persistence of FQs in the soil environment over 112 days was monitored and evaluated (ENR concentrations ranged from 36 μg∙kg(-1) to 9 μg∙kg(-1) after 100 days). The presence of resistance genes was confirmed in both poultry litter and soil samples, in agreement with the risk assessment for the selection of AMR in soil based on ENR concentrations. This work provides a new, comprehensive perspective on the entry and long-term fate of antimicrobials in the terrestrial environment and their consequences after the incorporation of poultry litter into agricultural fields.202438367114
3139120.9999Sulfonamide-resistant bacteria and their resistance genes in soils fertilized with manures from Jiangsu Province, Southeastern China. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes are recognized as new environmental pollutants that warrant special concern. There were few reports on veterinary antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes in China. This work systematically analyzed the prevalence and distribution of sulfonamide resistance genes in soils from the environments around poultry and livestock farms in Jiangsu Province, Southeastern China. The results showed that the animal manure application made the spread and abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) increasingly in the soil. The frequency of sulfonamide resistance genes was sul1 > sul2 > sul3 in pig-manured soil DNA and sul2 > sul1 > sul3 in chicken-manured soil DNA. Further analysis suggested that the frequency distribution of the sul genes in the genomic DNA and plasmids of the SR isolates from manured soil was sul2 > sul1 > sul3 overall (p<0.05). The combination of sul1 and sul2 was the most frequent, and the co-existence of sul1 and sul3 was not found either in the genomic DNA or plasmids. The sample type, animal type and sampling time can influence the prevalence and distribution pattern of sulfonamide resistance genes. The present study also indicated that Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Shigella were the most prevalent sul-positive genera in the soil, suggesting a potential human health risk. The above results could be important in the evaluation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes from manure as sources of agricultural soil pollution; the results also demonstrate the necessity and urgency of the regulation and supervision of veterinary antibiotics in China.201425405870
7114130.9999Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Freshwater Trout Farms in a Watershed in Chile. Point sources such as wastewater treatment plants, terrestrial agriculture, and aquaculture may release antibiotic residues, antibiotic resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) into aquatic ecosystems. However, there is a lack of quantitative studies attributing environmental ARG abundance to specific sources. The goal of this study was to evaluate the role of freshwater trout farms in the release and dissemination of ARGs into the environment. Sediment samples upstream and downstream from five rainbow trout farms were collected over time in southern Chile. A microfluidic quantitative polymerase chain reaction approach was used to quantify an ARG array covering different mechanisms of resistance, and data were analyzed using principal component analysis (PCA) and linear mixed regression models. Surveys were also conducted to obtain information about management practices, including antibiotic use, at the farms. Florfenicol and oxytetracycline were used at these farms, although at different rates. A total of 93 samples were analyzed. In the PCA, , , , , (A), (B), (C), (W), and grouped together. A statistically significant increase in abundance of , , , and several genes was found downstream from the farms compared with upstream sites, and retention ponds had the highest ARG abundance at each site. Antibiotic resistance gene levels returned to baseline at an average distance of 132.7 m downstream from the farms. Although results from this study indicate an influence of trout farms on the presence of ARGs in the immediate environment, the extent of their contribution to ARG dissemination is unknown and deserves further investigation.201931589726
3379140.9999Comprehensive Study of Antibiotic Resistance in Enterococcus spp.: Comparison of Influents and Effluents of Wastewater Treatment Plants. Background/Objectives: The spread of antibiotic resistance, particularly through Enterococcus spp., in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) poses significant public health risks. Given that research on antibiotic-resistant enterococci and their antibiotic-resistance genes in aquatic environments is limited, we evaluated the role of Enterococcus spp. in WWTPs by comparing the antibiotic resistance rates, gene prevalence, biofilm formation, and residual antibiotics in the influent and effluent using culture-based methods. Methods: In 2022, influent and effluent samples were collected from 11 WWTPs in South Korea. Overall, 804 Enterococcus strains were isolated, and their resistance to 16 antibiotics was assessed using the microdilution method. Results: High resistance to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, kanamycin, and erythromycin was observed. However, no significant differences in the overall resistance rates and biofilm formation were observed between the influent and effluent. Rates of resistance to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, and gentamicin, as well as the prevalence of the tetM and qnrS genes, increased in the effluent, whereas resistance rates to chloramphenicol, florfenicol, erythromycin, and tylosin tartrate, along with the prevalence of the optrA gene, decreased. E. faecium, E. hirae, and E. faecalis were the dominant species, with E. faecalis exhibiting the highest resistance. Conclusions: Our results suggest that WWTPs do not effectively reduce the rates of resistant Enterococcus spp., indicating the need for continuous monitoring and improvement of the treatment process to mitigate the environmental release of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.202439596765
5329150.9999Distribution of Antibiotic Resistance in a Mixed-Use Watershed and the Impact of Wastewater Treatment Plants on Antibiotic Resistance in Surface Water. The aquatic environment has been recognized as a source of antibiotic resistance (AR) that factors into the One Health approach to combat AR. To provide much needed data on AR in the environment, a comprehensive survey of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and antibiotic residues was conducted in a mixed-use watershed and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) within the watershed to evaluate these contaminants in surface water. A culture-based approach was used to determine prevalence and diversity of ARB in surface water. Low levels of AR Salmonella (9.6%) and Escherichia coli (6.5%) were detected, while all Enterococcus were resistant to at least one tested antibiotic. Fewer than 20% of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae (17.3%) and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) (7.7%) were recovered. Six ARGs were detected using qPCR, primarily the erythromycin-resistance gene, ermB. Of the 26 antibiotics measured, almost all water samples (98.7%) had detectable levels of antibiotics. Analysis of wastewater samples from three WWTPs showed that WWTPs did not completely remove AR contaminants. ARGs and antibiotics were detected in all the WWTP effluent discharges, indicating that WWTPs are the source of AR contaminants in receiving water. However, no significant difference in ARGs and antibiotics between the upstream and downstream water suggests that there are other sources of AR contamination. The widespread occurrence and abundance of medically important antibiotics, bacteria resistant to antibiotics used for human and veterinary purposes, and the genes associated with resistance to these antibiotics, may potentially pose risks to the local populations exposed to these water sources.202337998788
5323160.9999Monitoring and assessing the impact of wastewater treatment on release of both antibiotic-resistant bacteria and their typical genes in a Chinese municipal wastewater treatment plant. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important hotspots for the spread of antibiotic resistance. However, the release and impact factors of both antibiotic resistant bacteria and the relevant genes over long periods in WWTPs have rarely been investigated. In this study, the fate of bacteria and genes resistant to six commonly used antibiotics was assessed over a whole year. In WWTP effluent and biosolids, a high prevalence of heterotrophic bacteria resistant to vancomycin, cephalexin, sulfadiazine and erythromycin were detected, each with a proportion of over 30%. The corresponding genes (vanA, ampC, sulI and ereA) were all detected in proportions of (2.2 ± 0.8) × 10(-10), (6.2 ± 3.2) × 10(-9), (1.2 ± 0.8) × 10(-7) and (7.6 ± 4.8) × 10(-8), respectively, in the effluent. The sampling season imposed considerable influence on the release of all ARB. High release loads of most ARB were detected in the spring, while low release loads were generally found in the winter. In comparison, the ARG loads changed only slightly over various seasons. No statistical relevance was found between all ARB abundances and their corresponding genes over the long-term investigation period. This inconsistent behavior indicates that bacteria and genes should both be considered when exploring resistance characteristics in wastewater. A redundancy analysis was adopted to assess the impact of wastewater quality and operational conditions on antibiotic resistance. The results indicated that most ARB and ARG proportions were positively related to the COD and turbidity of the raw sewage, while negatively related to those of the effluent. DO and temperature exhibited strong negative relevance to most ARB prevalence.201424927359
3681170.9999A closer look at the antibiotic-resistant bacterial community found in urban wastewater treatment systems. The conventional biological treatment process can provide a favorable environment for the maintenance and dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) they carry. This study investigated the occurrence of antibiotic resistance in three wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) to determine the role they play in the dissemination of ARGs. Bacterial isolates resistant to tetracycline were collected, and tested against eight antibiotics to determine their resistance profiles and the prevalence of multiple antibiotic resistance. It was found that bacteria resistant to tetracycline were more likely to display resistance to multiple antibiotics compared to those isolates that were not tetracycline resistant. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify the tetracycline resistance determinants present within the bacterial communities of the WWTPs and receiving waters, and it was found that ARGs may not be released from the treatment process. Identification of isolates showed that there was a large diversity of species in both the tetracycline-resistant and tetracycline-sensitive populations and that the two groups were significantly different in composition. Antibiotic resistance profiles of each population showed that a large diversity of resistance patterns existed within genera suggesting that transmission of ARG may progress by both horizontal gene and vertical proliferation.201829484827
7119180.9999Assessing the benefits of composting poultry manure in reducing antimicrobial residues, pathogenic bacteria, and antimicrobial resistance genes: a field-scale study. The poultry industry in the European Union produces 13 million tons of manure annually, which represents a major health and environmental challenge. Composting is an environmental-friendly technique for the management of manure, but there are few studies about antibiotic residues and antimicrobial resistances at a field scale. The goal of this study was to determine if the composting of poultry manure at a field scale would result in the reduction of antibiotic residues, pathogenic bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the final fertilizer product. A 10-week composting of poultry manure spiked with enrofloxacin, doxycycline, and ciprofloxacin was performed. The determination of antibiotics residues and 22 selected ARGs was carried out together with the identification of bacteria by metagenomics. In the case of ciprofloxacin and doxycycline, a 90% decrease was observed after composting for 3 weeks. Sixteen ARGs were detected at the beginning of the experiment; 12 of them decreased from week 0 to week 10 (reduction of 73.7-99.99%). The presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria, such as, Campylobacter coli or commensal bacteria such as Escherichia coli decreases along the composting process. In conclusion, 10-week composting of poultry manure promotes the reduction of antibiotic residues and most of the ARGs and pathogenic bacteria.202032399873
7110190.9999The "best practices for farming" successfully contributed to decrease the antibiotic resistance gene abundances within dairy farms. INTRODUCTION: Farms are significant hotspots for the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes (ARGs) into the environment and directly to humans. The prevalence of ARGs on farms underscores the need for effective strategies to reduce their spread. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a guideline on "best practices for farming" aimed at reducing the dissemination of antibiotic resistance. METHODS: A guideline focused on prudent antibiotic use, selective therapy, and hygienic and immune-prophylactic practices was developed and provided to the owners of 10 selected dairy farms and their veterinarians. Fecal samples were collected from lactating cows, dry cows, and calves both before and after the implementation of the guideline. ARGs (bla (TEM), ermB, sul2, and tetA) were initially screened by end-point PCR, followed by quantification using digital droplet PCR. ARG abundance was expressed in relative terms by dividing the copy number of ARGs by the copy number of the 16S rRNA gene. RESULTS: The ARG abundances were higher in lactating cows compared to other categories. Despite similar levels of antibiotic administration (based on veterinary prescription data from the sampled farms) in both sampling campaigns, the total abundance of selected ARGs, particularly bla (TEM) and tetA, significantly decreased after the adoption of the farming guidelines. DISCUSSION: This study highlights the positive impact of prudent antibiotic use and the implementation of farming best practices in reducing the abundance of ARGs. The lactating cow category emerged as a crucial point of intervention for reducing the spread of antibiotic resistance. These findings contribute to ongoing efforts to address antibiotic resistance in farm environments and strengthen the evidence supporting the adoption of good farming practices.202439840338