# | Rank | Similarity | Title + Abs. | Year | PMID |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 7210 | 0 | 0.8989 | Managing Beef Backgrounding Residual Soil Contaminants by Alum and Biochar Amendments. Heavy manure-derived contamination of soils can make animal congregating areas nonpoint sources for environmental pollution. In situ soil stabilization is a cost-effective management strategy with a focus on lowering contaminant availability and limiting release to the environment. Soil stabilizing amendments can help mitigate the negative environmental impacts of contaminated soils. In this 2-yr study, we examined the effects of adding no amendment (control) or treating with alum [Al (SO)⋅18HO] or biochar as soil amendments on Mehlich-3 extractable soil P, Cu, and Zn contents, antimicrobial monensin concentrations, total bacteria (16S ribosomal RNA [rRNA] gene), antibiotic resistance genes (1 and B), and Class 1 integrons (1) in an abandoned beef backgrounding setting. The alum reduced soil P (1374 to 1060 mg kg), Cu (7.7 to 3.2 mg kg), and Zn (52.4 to 19.6 mg kg) contents. Both alum and biochar reduced monesin concentrations (1.8 to 0.7 and 2.1 to 1.1 ng g, respectively). All the treatments harbored consistent 16 rRNA concentrations (10 copies g) throughout. The B gene concentration (10 copies g) was lower than either the 1 or the 1 genes (10 copies g), regardless of treatments. However, concentrations of all genes in the soils of animal congregation areas were higher than those in background soils with the least animal impact. In contrast with the effect on other contaminants, the effect of soil amendments on bacteria with antibiotic resistance genes was not biologically significant. Future research should be directed toward evaluating effective alternative methods to mitigate these bacterial populations. | 2018 | 30272780 |
| 7214 | 1 | 0.8951 | Long-term application of fresh and composted manure increase tetracycline resistance in the arable soil of eastern China. The aim of this study was to compare the occurrence, abundance, and diversity of tetracycline resistance genes (tet) in agricultural soils after 6 years' application of fresh or composted swine manure. Soil samples were collected from fresh or composted manure-treated farmland at three depths (0-5 cm, 5-10 cm, and 10-20 cm). Nine classes of tet genes [tetW, tetB(P), tetO, tetS, tetC, tetG, tetZ, tetL, and tetX] were detected; tetG, tetZ, tetL, and tetB(P) were predominant in the manure-treated soil. The abundances of tetB(P), tetW, tetC, and tetO were reduced, while tetG and tetL were increased by fertilizing with composted versus fresh manure; thus, the total abundance of tet genes was not significantly reduced by compost manuring. tetG was the most abundant gene in manure-treated soil; the predominant tetG genotypes shared high homology with pathogenic bacteria. The tetG isolates were more diverse in soils treated with fresh versus composted manure, although the residual tet genes in composted manure remain a pollutant and produce a different influence on the tet gene resistome in field soil. | 2015 | 25460961 |
| 3481 | 2 | 0.8948 | Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Sediment of Honghu Lake and East Dongting Lake, China. Sediment is an ideal medium for the aggregation and dissemination of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The levels of antibiotics and ARGs in Honghu Lake and East Dongting Lake of central China were investigated in this study. The concentrations of eight antibiotics (four sulfonamides and four tetracyclines) in Honghu Lake were in the range 90.00-437.43 μg kg(-1) (dry weight (dw)) with mean value of 278.21 μg kg(-1) dw, which was significantly higher than those in East Dongting Lake (60.02-321.04 μg kg(-1) dw, mean value of 195.70 μg kg(-1) dw). Among the tested three sulfonamide resistance genes (sul) and eight tetracycline resistance genes (tet), sul1, sul2, tetA, tetC, and tetM had 100 % detection frequency in sediment samples of East Dongting Lake, while only sul1, sul2, and tetC were observed in all samples of Honghu Lake. The relative abundance of sul2 was higher than that of sul1 at p < 0.05 level in both lakes. The relative abundance of tet genes in East Dongting Lake was in the following order: tetM > tetB > tetC > tetA. The relative abundance of sul1, sul2, and tetC in East Dongting Lake was significantly higher than those in Honghu Lake. The abundance of background bacteria may play an important role in the horizontal spread of sul2 and tetC genes in Honghu Lake and sul1 in East Dongting Lake, respectively. Redundancy analysis indicated that tetracyclines may play a more important role than sulfonamides in the abundance of sul1, sul2, and tetC gens in Honghu Lake and East Dongting Lake. | 2016 | 27418176 |
| 8109 | 3 | 0.8948 | The fate of antibiotic resistance genes and their influential factors in swine manure composting with sepiolite as additive. Manures are storages for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) entering the environment. This study investigated the effects of adding sepiolite at 0%, 2.5%, 5%, and 7.5% (CK, T1, T2, and T3, respectively) on the fates of ARGs during composting. The relative abundances (RAs) of the total ARGs in CK and T3 decreased by 0.23 and 0.46 logs, respectively, after composting. The RAs of 10/11 ARGs decreased in CK, whereas they all decreased in T3. The reduction in the RA of the total mobile genetic elements (MGEs) was 1.26 times higher in T3 compared with CK after composting. The bacterial community accounted for 47.93% of the variation in the abundances of ARGs. Network analysis indicated that ARGs and MGEs shared potential host bacteria (PHB), and T3 controlled the transmission of ARGs by reducing the abundances of PHB. Composting with 7.5% sepiolite is an effective strategy for reducing the risk of ARGs proliferating. | 2022 | 35063626 |
| 7998 | 4 | 0.8943 | Seasonal variation and removal efficiency of antibiotic resistance genes during wastewater treatment of swine farms. The seasonal variation and removal efficiency of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), including tetracycline resistance genes (tetG, tetM, and tetX) and macrolide (ermB, ermF, ereA, and mefA), were investigated in two typical swine wastewater treatment systems in both winter and summer. ARGs, class 1 integron gene, and 16S rRNA gene were quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction assays. There was a 0.31-3.52 log variation in ARGs in raw swine wastewater, and the abundance of ARGs in winter was higher than in summer. tetM, tetX, ermB, ermF, and mefA were highly abundant. The abundance of ARGs was effectively reduced by most individual treatment process and the removal efficiencies of ARGs were higher in winter than in summer. However, when examining relative abundance, the fate of ARGs was quite variable. Anaerobic digestion reduced the relative abundance of tetX, ermB, ermF, and mefA, while lagoon treatment decreased tetM, ermB, ermF, and mefA. Sequencing batch reactor (SBR) decreased tetM, ermB, and ermF, but biofilters and wetlands did not display consistent removal efficiency on ARGs in two sampling seasons. As far as the entire treatment system is concerned, ermB and mefA were effectively reduced in both winter and summer in both total and relative abundance. The relative abundances of tetG and ereA were significantly correlated with intI1 (p < 0.01), and both tetG and ereA increased after wastewater treatment. This may pose a great threat to public health. | 2017 | 26715413 |
| 8108 | 5 | 0.8943 | Insights into the beneficial effects of woody peat for reducing abundances of antibiotic resistance genes during composting. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in manure endangered human health, while heavy metals in manure will pose selective pressure on ARGs. This study explored the effects on ARGs of adding woody peat during composting at different ratios (0 (CK), 5% (T1), and 15% (T2)). After composting, the relative abundances of 8/11 ARGs were 6.97-38.09% and 10.73-54.31% lower in T1 and T2, respectively, than CK. The bioavailable Cu content was 1.40% and 18.40% lower in T1 and T2, respectively, than CK. Network analysis showed that ARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and metal resistance genes possessed common potential host bacteria, such as Streptococcus, Dietzia, and Corynebacterium_1. Environmental factors, especially bioavailable Cu, and MGEs accounted for 80.75% of the changes in the abundances of ARGs. In conclusion, 15% Woody peat is beneficial to decrease the bioavailable Cu content and weaken horizontal gene transfer for controlling the spread of ARGs during composting. | 2021 | 34534940 |
| 8105 | 6 | 0.8942 | Refluxing mature compost to replace bulking agents: A low-cost solution for suppressing antibiotic resistance genes rebound in sewage sludge composting. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) rebounding during composting cooling phase is a critical bottleneck in composting technology that increased ARGs dissemination and application risk of compost products. In this study, mature compost (MR) was used as a substitute for rice husk (RH) to mitigate the rebound of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) during the cooling phase of sewage sludge composting, and the relationship among ARGs, MGEs, bacterial community and environmental factors was investigated to explore the key factor influencing ARGs rebound. The results showed that aadD, blaCTX-M02, ermF, ermB, tetX and vanHB significantly increased 4.76-32.41 times, and the MGEs rebounded by 38.60% in the cooling phase of RH composting. Conversely, MR reduced aadD, tetM, ermF and ermB concentrations by 59.49-98.58%, and reduced the total abundance of ARGs in the compost product by 49.32% compared to RH, which significantly restrained ARGs rebound. MR promoted secondary high temperature inactivation of potential host bacteria, including Ornithinibacter, Rhizobiales and Caldicoprobacter, which could harbor aadE, blaCTX-M02, and blaVEB. It also reduced the abundance of lignocellulose degrading bacteria of Firmicutes, which were potential hosts of aadD, tetX, ermF and vanHB. Moreover, MR reduced moisture and increased oxidation reduction potential (ORP) that promoted aadE, tetQ, tetW abatement. Furthermore, MR reduced 97.36% of total MGEs including Tn916/1545, IS613, Tp614 and intI3, which alleviated ARGs horizontal transfer. Overall finding proposed mature compost reflux as bulking agent was a simple method to suppress ARGs rebound and horizontal transfer, improve ARGs removal and reduce composting plant cost. | 2025 | 39798649 |
| 7117 | 7 | 0.8936 | Persistence of antibiotic resistance genes in beef cattle backgrounding environment over two years after cessation of operation. Confined animal feeding operations can facilitate the spread of genes associated with antibiotic resistance. It is not known how cattle removal from beef cattle backgrounding operation affects the persistence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. We investigated the effect of cessation of beef cattle backgrounding operation on the persistence and distribution of ARGs in the beef cattle backgrounding environment. The study was conducted at a pasture-feedlot type beef cattle backgrounding operation which consisted of feeding and grazing areas that were separated by a fence with an access gate. Backgrounding occurred for seven years before cattle were removed from the facility. Soil samples (n = 78) from 26 georeferenced locations were collected at the baseline before cattle were removed, and then one year and two years after cattle were removed. Metagenomic DNA was extracted from the soil samples and total bacterial population (16S rRNA), total Enterococcus species and class 1 integrons (intI1), and erythromycin (ermB and ermF), sulfonamide (sul1 and sul2) and tetracycline (tetO, tetW and tetQ) resistance genes were quantified. Concentrations of total bacteria, Enterococcus spp., class 1 integrons, and ARGs were higher in the feeding area and its immediate vicinity (around the fence and the gate) followed by a gradient decline along the grazing area. Although the concentrations of total bacteria, Enterococcus spp., class 1 integrons and ARGs in the feeding area significantly decreased two years after cattle removal, their concentrations were still higher than that observed in the grazing area. Higher concentrations over two years in the feeding area when compared to the grazing area suggest a lasting effect of confined beef cattle production system on the persistence of bacteria and ARGs in the soil. | 2019 | 30768641 |
| 7988 | 8 | 0.8934 | Electrokinetic treatment at the thermophilic stage achieves more effective control of heavy metal resistance in swine manure composting. Excessive heavy metals (HMs) and metal resistance genes (MRGs) in manure pose significant environmental and human health risks. Our previous work proved enhanced control of antibiotic resistance and quality of swine manure composting with electrokinetic technology (EK). As a continuous study, EK treatments were further employed at typical stages of composting. The humification level increased significantly in EK treatments applied at the thermophilic stage (EK1) and throughout the whole composting period (EK2). The immobilization efficiency of heavy metals increased by 3.02 %-20.90 % for EK1, and 3.86 %-20.56 % for EK2, compared with the EK treatment applied at maturity stage (EK3). EK1 showed the highest ability to remove MRGs (29.38 %-87.13 %), while the abundance of potential host bacteria increased in EK2, raising potential transmission risk of MRGs. Furthermore, there was an elevated presence of bacteria associated with membrane transport as a response mechanism to HMs stress in EK1. Considering economic factors and environmental effects, EK treatment during the thermophilic stage was more effective in compost maturation, HMs passivation, as well as control of HMs resistance. This study provides an effective method to address HMs-related contamination with highly efficient maturation in swine manure composting. | 2025 | 40543370 |
| 8058 | 9 | 0.8932 | Effects of biochars on the fate of antibiotics and their resistance genes during vermicomposting of dewatered sludge. It is currently still difficult to decrease the high contents of antibiotics and their corresponding antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in sludge vermicompost. To decrease the environmental risk of vermicompost as a bio-fertilizer, this study investigated the feasibility of biochar addition to decrease the levels of antibiotics and ARGs during vermicomposting of dewatered sludge. To achieve this, 1.25% and 5% of corncob and rice husk biochars, respectively, were added to sludge, which was then vermicomposted by Eisenia fetida for 60 days. The sludge blended with corncob biochar showed increased decomposition and humification of organic matter. Higher biochar concentration promoted both the number and diversity of bacteria, and differed dominant genera. The level of antibiotics significantly decreased as a result of biochar addition (P < 0.05), and tetracycline was completely removed. Relative to the control without addition of biochars, ermF and tetX genes significantly decreased with corncob biochar treatment (P < 0.05). Rice husk biochar (5%) could effectively decrease sul-1 and sul-2 genes in vermicompost (P < 0.05). However, the abundance of the intI-1 gene increased with biochar concentration. This study suggests that biochar addition can lessen the antibiotic and ARG pollution in sludge vermicompost, depending on the type and concentration of biochars. | 2020 | 32388093 |
| 3480 | 10 | 0.8932 | Short-term inhalation exposure evaluations of airborne antibiotic resistance genes in environments. Antibiotic resistance is a sword of Damocles that hangs over humans. In regards to airborne antibiotic resistance genes (AARGs), critical knowledge gaps still exist in the identification of hotspots and quantification of exposure levels in different environments. Here, we have studied the profiles of AARGs, mobile genetic elements (MGEs) and bacterial communities in various atmospheric environments by high throughput qPCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We propose a new AARGs exposure dose calculation that uses short-term inhalation (STI). Swine farms and hospitals were high-risk areas where AARGs standardised abundance was more abundant than suburbs and urban areas. Additionally, resistance gene abundance in swine farm worker sputum was higher than that in healthy individuals in other environments. The correlation between AARGs with MGEs and bacteria was strong in suburbs but weak in livestock farms and hospitals. STI exposure analysis revealed that occupational intake of AARGs (via PM(10)) in swine farms and hospitals were 110 and 29 times higher than in suburbs, were 1.5 × 10(4), 5.6 × 10(4) and 5.1 × 10(2) copies, i.e., 61.9%, 75.1% and 10.7% of the overall daily inhalation intake, respectively. Our study comprehensively compares environmental differences in AARGs to identify high-risk areas, and forwardly proposes the STI exposure dose of AARGs to guide risk assessment. | 2022 | 35717091 |
| 8110 | 11 | 0.8932 | Removal of chlortetracycline and antibiotic resistance genes in soil by earthworms (epigeic Eisenia fetida and endogeic Metaphire guillelmi). The impacts of two ecological earthworms on the removal of chlortetracycline (CTC, 0.5 and 15 mg kg(-1)) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in soil were explored through the soil column experiments. The findings showed that earthworm could significantly accelerate the degradation of CTC and its metabolites (ECTC) in soil (P < 0.05), with epigeic Eisenia fetida promoting degradation rapidly and endogeic Metaphire guillelmi exhibiting a slightly better elimination effect. Earthworms alleviated the abundances of tetR, tetD, tetPB, tetG, tetA, sul1, TnpA, ttgB and intI1 in soil, with the total relative abundances of ARGs decreasing by 35.0-44.2% in earthworm treatments at the 28th day of cultivation. High throughput sequencing results displayed that the structure of soil bacteria community was modified apparently with earthworm added, and some possible CTC degraders, Aeromonas, Flavobacterium and Luteolibacter, were promoted by two kinds of earthworms. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that the reduction of CTC residues, Actinobacteria, Acidobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes owing to earthworm stimulation was responsible for the removal of ARGs and intI1 in soil. Additionally, intI1 declined obviously in earthworm treatments, which could weaken the risk of horizontal transmission of ARGs. Therefore, earthworm could restore the CTC-contaminated soil via enhancing the removal of CTC, its metabolites and ARGs. | 2021 | 33798888 |
| 8017 | 12 | 0.8928 | Dose-Dependent Effect of Tilmicosin Residues on ermA Rebound Mediated by IntI1 in Pig Manure Compost. The impact of varying antibiotic residue levels on antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) removal during composting is still unclear. This study investigated the impact of different residue levels of tilmicosin (TIM), a common veterinary macrolide antibiotic, on ARG removal during pig manure composting. Three groups were used: the CK group (no TIM), the L group (246.49 ± 22.83 mg/kg TIM), and the H group (529.99 ± 16.15 mg/kg TIM). Composting removed most targeted macrolide resistance genes (MRGs) like ereA, ermC, and ermF (>90% removal), and reduced ermB, ermX, ermQ, acrA, acrB, and mefA (30-70% removal). However, ermA increased in abundance. TIM altered compost community structure, driving succession through a deterministic process. At low doses, TIM reduced MRG-bacteria co-occurrence, with horizontal gene transfer via intI1 being the main cause of ermA rebound. In conclusion, composting reduces many MRG levels in pig manure, but the persistence and rebound of genes like ermA reveal the complex interactions between composting conditions and microbial gene transfer. | 2025 | 41011454 |
| 7211 | 13 | 0.8927 | Contribution of Manure-Spreading Operations to Bioaerosols and Antibiotic Resistance Genes' Emission. Manure spreading from farm animals can release antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) carrying antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) into the air, posing a potential threat to human and animal health due to the intensive use of antibiotics in the livestock industry. This study analyzed the effect of different manure types and spreading methods on airborne bacterial emissions and antibiotic resistance genes in a controlled setting. Cow, poultry manure, and pig slurry were spread in a confined environment using two types of spreaders (splash plate and dribble bar), and the resulting emissions were collected before, during, and after spreading using high-volume air samplers coupled to a particle counter. Total bacteria, fecal indicators, and a total of 38 different subtypes of ARGs were further quantified by qPCR. Spreading poultry manure resulted in the highest emission rates of total bacteria (10(11) 16S gene copies/kg manure spread), Archaea (10(6) 16S gene copies/kg manure), Enterococcus (10(5) 16S gene copies/kg manure), and E. coli (10(4) 16S gene copies/kg manure), followed by cow manure and pig slurry with splash plates and the dribble bar. Manure spreading was associated with the highest rates of airborne aminoglycoside genes for cow and poultry (10(6) gene copies/kg manure), followed by pig slurry (10(4) gene copies/kg manure). This study shows that the type of manure and spreading equipment can affect the emission rates of airborne bacteria, and ARGs. | 2023 | 37512969 |
| 8112 | 14 | 0.8927 | Fate of antibiotic resistance bacteria and genes during enhanced anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge by microwave pretreatment. The fate of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were investigated during the sludge anaerobic digestion (AD) with microwave-acid (MW-H), microwave (MW) and microwave-H2O2-alkaline (MW-H2O2) pretreatments. Results showed that combined MW pretreatment especially for the MW-H pretreatment could efficiently reduce the ARB concentration, and most ARG concentrations tended to attenuate during the pretreatment. The subsequent AD showed evident removal of the ARB, but most ARGs were enriched after AD. Only the concentration of tetX kept continuous declination during the whole sludge treatment. The total ARGs concentration showed significant correlation with 16S rRNA during the pretreatment and AD. Compared with unpretreated sludge, the AD of MW and MW-H2O2 pretreated sludge presented slightly better ARB and ARGs reduction efficiency. | 2016 | 26970692 |
| 8113 | 15 | 0.8927 | Fate of antibiotic resistance genes in mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion of chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) sludge. Anaerobic digestion (AD) of chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) sludge and non-CEPT (conventional sedimentation) sludge were comparatively operated under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. The highest methane yield (692.46±0.46mL CH(4)/g VS(removed) in CEPT sludge) was observed in mesophilic AD of CEPT sludge. Meanwhile, thermophilic conditions were more favorable for the removal of total antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, no measurable difference in the fates and removal of ARGs and class 1 integrin-integrase gene (intI1) was observed between treated non-CEPT and CEPT sludge. However, redundancy analysis indicated that shifts in bacterial community were primarily accountable for the variations in ARGs and intI1. Network analysis further revealed potential host bacteria for ARGs and intI1. | 2017 | 28797965 |
| 7132 | 16 | 0.8926 | Impact of blending for direct potable reuse on premise plumbing microbial ecology and regrowth of opportunistic pathogens and antibiotic resistant bacteria. Little is known about how introducing recycled water intended for direct potable reuse (DPR) into distribution systems and premise plumbing will affect water quality at the point of use, particularly with respect to effects on microbial communities and regrowth. The examination of potential growth of opportunistic pathogens (OPs) and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), each representing serious and growing public health concerns, by introducing DPR water has not previously been evaluated. In this study, the impact of blending purified DPR water with traditional drinking water sources was investigated with respect to treatment techniques, blending location, and blending ratio. Water from four U.S. utility partners was treated in bench- and pilot-scale treatment trains to simulate DPR with blending. Water was incubated in simulated premise plumbing rigs made of PVC pipe containing brass coupons to measure regrowth of total bacteria (16S rRNA genes, heterotrophic plate count), OPs (Legionella spp., Mycobacterium spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa), ARGs (qnrA, vanA), and an indicator of horizontal gene transfer and multi-drug resistance (intI1). The microbial community composition was profiled and the resistome (i.e., all ARGs present) was characterized in select samples using next generation sequencing. While regrowth of total bacteria (16S rRNA genes) from the start of the incubation through week eight consistently occurred across tested scenarios (Wilcoxon, p ≤ 0.0001), total bacteria were not more abundant in the water or biofilm of any DPR scenario than in the corresponding conventional potable condition (p ≥ 0.0748). Regrowth of OP marker genes, qnrA, vanA, and intI1 were not significantly greater in water or biofilm for any DPR blends treated with advanced oxidation compared to corresponding potable water (p ≥ 0.1047). This study of initial bacteria colonizing pipes after introduction of blended DPR water revealed little evidence (i.e., one target in one water type) of exacerbated regrowth of total bacteria, OPs, or ARGs in premise plumbing. | 2019 | 30594092 |
| 7755 | 17 | 0.8925 | Anthropogenic impacts on sulfonamide residues and sulfonamide resistant bacteria and genes in Larut and Sangga Besar River, Perak. The environmental reservoirs of sulfonamide (SA) resistome are still poorly understood. We investigated the potential sources and reservoir of SA resistance (SR) in Larut River and Sangga Besar River by measuring the SA residues, sulfamethoxazole resistant (SMX(r)) in bacteria and their resistance genes (SRGs). The SA residues measured ranged from lower than quantification limits (LOQ) to 33.13 ng L(-1) with sulfadiazine (SDZ), sulfadimethoxine (SDM) and SMX as most detected. Hospital wastewater effluent was detected with the highest SA residues concentration followed by the slaughterhouse and zoo wastewater effluents. The wastewater effluents also harbored the highest abundance of SMX(r)-bacteria (10(7) CFU mL(-1)) and SRGs (10(-1)/16S copies mL(-1)). Pearson correlation showed only positive correlation between the PO(4) and SMX(r)-bacteria. In conclusion, wastewater effluents from the zoo, hospital and slaughterhouse could serve as important sources of SA residues that could lead to the consequent emergence of SMX(r)-bacteria and SRGs in the river. | 2019 | 31726563 |
| 5245 | 18 | 0.8925 | Antimicrobial Resistance in U.S. Retail Ground Beef with and without Label Claims Regarding Antibiotic Use. ABSTRACT: Antibiotics used during food animal production account for approximately 77% of U.S. antimicrobial consumption by mass. Ground beef products labeled as raised without antibiotics (RWA) are perceived to harbor lower levels of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria than conventional (CONV) products with no label claims regarding antimicrobial use. Retail ground beef samples were obtained from six U.S. cities. Samples with an RWA or U.S. Department of Agriculture Organic claim (n = 299) were assigned to the RWA production system. Samples lacking these claims (n = 300) were assigned to the CONV production system. Each sample was cultured for the detection of five antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Genomic DNA was isolated from each sample, and a quantitative PCR assay was used to determine the abundance of 10 antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. Prevalence of tetracycline-resistant Escherichia coli (CONV, 46.3%; RWA, 34.4%; P < 0.01) and erythromycin-resistant Enterococcus (CONV, 48.0%; RWA, 37.5%; P = 0.01) was higher in CONV ground beef. Salmonella was detected in 1.2% of samples. The AMR gene blaCTX-M (CONV, 4.1 log-normalized abundance; RWA, 3.8 log-normalized abundance; P < 0.01) was more abundant in CONV ground beef. The AMR genes mecA (CONV, 4.4 log-normalized abundance; RWA, 4.9 log-normalized abundance; P = 0.05), tet(A) (CONV, 3.9 log-normalized abundance; RWA, 4.5 log-normalized abundance; P < 0.01), tet(B) (CONV, 3.9 log-normalized abundance; RWA, 4.5 log-normalized abundance; P < 0.01), and tet(M) (CONV, 5.4 log-normalized abundance; RWA, 5.8 log-normalized abundance; P < 0.01) were more abundant in RWA ground beef. Although these results suggest that antimicrobial use during U.S. cattle production does not increase human exposure to antimicrobial-resistant bacteria via ground beef, quantitative microbiological risk assessments are required for authoritative determination of the human health impacts of the use of antimicrobial agents during beef production. | 2021 | 33302298 |
| 7212 | 19 | 0.8922 | Simulated Winter Incubation of Soil With Swine Manure Differentially Affects Multiple Antimicrobial Resistance Elements. Gastrointestinal bacteria that harbor antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) become enriched with antibiotic use. Livestock manure application to cropland for soil fertility presents a concern that ARG and bacteria may proliferate and be transported in the environment. In the United States, manure applications typically occur during autumn with slow mineralization until spring planting season. A laboratory soil incubation study was conducted mimicking autumn swine manure application to soils with concentrations of selected ARG monitored during simulated 120-day winter incubation with multiple freeze-thaw events. Additionally, the effects of two soil moistures [10 and 30% water holding capacity (WHC)] and two manure treatments [raw versus hydrated lime alkaline stabilization (HLAS)] were assessed. Fourteen tetracycline resistance genes were evaluated; tet(D), tet(G), and tet(L) were detected in background soil while swine manure contained tet(A), tet(B), tet(C), tet(G), tet(M), tet(O), tet(Q), and tet(X). By day 120, the manure-borne tet(M) and tet(O) were still detected while tet(C), tet(D), tet(L), and tet(X) genes were detected less frequently. Other tet resistance genes were detected rarely, if at all. The sum of unique tet resistance genes among all treatments decreased during the incubation from an average of 8.9 to 3.8 unique tet resistance genes. Four resistance elements, intI1, bla (ctx-m-32), sul(I), erm(B), and 16s rRNA genes were measured using quantitative PCR. ARG abundances relative to 16S abundance were initially greater in the raw manure compared to background soil (-1.53 to -3.92 log abundance in manure; -4.02 to <-6.7 log abundance in soil). In the mixed manure/soil, relative abundance of the four resistance elements decreased (0.87 to 1.94 log abundance) during the incubation largely because 16S rRNA genes increased by 1.21 log abundance. Throughout the incubation, the abundance of intI1, bla (ctx-m-32), sul(I), and erm(B) per gram in soil amended with HLAS-treated manure was lower than in soil amended with raw manure. Under low initial soil moisture conditions, HLAS treatment reduced the abundance of intI1 and resulted in loss of bla (ctx-m-32), sul(I), and erm(B)] compared to other treatment-moisture combinations. Although one might expect antibiotic resistance to be relatively unchanged after simulated winter manure application to soil, a variety of changes in diversity and relative abundance can be expected. | 2020 | 33391241 |