Antibiotic resistance genes in bacterial and bacteriophage fractions of Tunisian and Spanish wastewaters as markers to compare the antibiotic resistance patterns in each population

Abstract

The emergence and increased prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment may pose a serious global health concern. This study evaluates the abundance of several ARGs in bacterial and bacteriophage DNA via real-time qPCR in samples from five different sampling points in Tunisia; three wastewater treatment plants (WWTP 1, 2 and 3) and wastewater from two abattoirs slaughtering different animals. Results are compared with those obtained in the Barcelona area, in northeast Spain. Eight ARGs were quantified by qPCR from total and phage DNA fraction from the samples. Three β-lactamases (bla(TEM), bla(CTX-M) cluster 1 and bla(CTX-M) cluster 9), two quinolone resistance genes (qnrA and qnrS), the mecA gene that confers resistance to methicillin in Staphylococcus aureus, the emerging armA gene, conferring resistance to aminoglycosides and sul1, the most extended gene conferring resistance to sulfonamides, were evaluated. Sul1 and bla(TEM) were the most prevalent ARGs detected at all five Tunisian sampling points, similarly with the observations in Barcelona. bla(CTX-M-9) was more prevalent than bla(CTX-M-1) both in bacterial and DNA within phage particles in all samples analysed. mecA and armA were almost absent in Tunisian waters from human or animal origin in contrast with Barcelona that showed a medium prevalence. qnrA was more prevalent than qnrS in bacterial and phage DNA from all sampling points. In conclusion, our study shows that ARGs are found in the bacterial and is reflected in the phage DNA fraction of human and animal wastewaters. The densities of each ARGs vary depending on the ARGs shed by each population and is determined by the characteristics of each area. Thus, the evaluation of ARGs in wastewaters seems to be suitable as marker reflecting the antibiotic resistance patterns of a population.

Determination and transferability of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance genes of the bacteria isolated from rainbow trout

“…There are positive correlations between occurrences of resistance genes and antibiotics in the water environment (Yang, Li, Zou, Fang, & Zhang, 2014). Therefore, evaluation of ARGs can be used to predict antibiotic resistance (Colomer-Lluch et al, 2014). They found that a significant correlation (r 2 = .83, p < .05) between the numbers of resistant bacteria and antibiotic concentrations was found.…”

Electrochemical oxidation of amoxicillin in its pharmaceutical formulation at boron doped diamond (BDD) electrode

“…Thus, the hospital wastewaters are directly rejected in the environment without treatment. The presence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment even at very low concentration levels can promote the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria or pathogens [8][9][10]. Antiobotics are found to be resistant to biological degradation processes, escaping almost intact from conventional wastewater treatment plants.…”

Detection of resistance genes and evaluation of water quality at zoo lakes in Brazil

“…COLUMER-LLUCH et al (2014) demonstrated that the sul I gene was more prevalent in water samples in Tunisia and DOBIASOVA et al (2013) reported that the sul I and sul II genes were mostly detected in Escherichia coli isolates from stool samples from zoo animals. Although sulfonamides are widely used in veterinary medicine, their use is even more widespread in human medicine (SKÖLD, 2000).…”