Role of wastewater treatment plants on environmental abundance of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Chilean rivers.
Antimicrobial resistance genes
Chile
Microfluidic qPCR
Rivers
Wastewater treatment plant
Wild birds
Journal
International journal of hygiene and environmental health
ISSN: 1618-131X
Titre abrégé: Int J Hyg Environ Health
Pays: Germany
ID NLM: 100898843
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 2020
01 2020
Historique:
received:
08
08
2019
revised:
04
10
2019
accepted:
12
10
2019
pubmed:
15
11
2019
medline:
9
4
2020
entrez:
15
11
2019
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
Point sources such as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) commonly discharge their effluent into rivers. Their waste may include antibiotic residues, disinfectants, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARG). There is evidence that ARG can be found in the natural environment, but attribution to specific point sources is lacking. The goal of this study was to assess the release and dissemination of ARG from three WWTPs in southern Chile via two pathways: through the river systems, and through wild birds. A longitudinal study was conducted, collecting river sediment samples at different distances both upstream and downstream from each WWTP. Wild birds were sampled from around one of the WWTPs once a month for 13 months. A microfluidic q-PCR approach was used to quantify 48 genes covering different molecular mechanisms of resistance, and data was analyzed using ordination methods and linear mixed regression models. There was a statistically significant increase downstream from the WWTPs (p < 0.05) for 17 ARG, but the downstream dissemination through the rivers was not clear. Beta-lactamase genes bla While results from this study indicate an influence of WWTPs on ARG abundance in the rivers, the biological significance of this increase and the extent of the WWTPs influence are unclear. In addition, wild birds were found to play a role in disseminating ARG, although association to the specific WWTP could not be ascertained.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
Point sources such as wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) commonly discharge their effluent into rivers. Their waste may include antibiotic residues, disinfectants, antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes (ARG). There is evidence that ARG can be found in the natural environment, but attribution to specific point sources is lacking.
OBJECTIVES
The goal of this study was to assess the release and dissemination of ARG from three WWTPs in southern Chile via two pathways: through the river systems, and through wild birds.
METHODS
A longitudinal study was conducted, collecting river sediment samples at different distances both upstream and downstream from each WWTP. Wild birds were sampled from around one of the WWTPs once a month for 13 months. A microfluidic q-PCR approach was used to quantify 48 genes covering different molecular mechanisms of resistance, and data was analyzed using ordination methods and linear mixed regression models.
RESULTS
There was a statistically significant increase downstream from the WWTPs (p < 0.05) for 17 ARG, but the downstream dissemination through the rivers was not clear. Beta-lactamase genes bla
CONCLUSIONS
While results from this study indicate an influence of WWTPs on ARG abundance in the rivers, the biological significance of this increase and the extent of the WWTPs influence are unclear. In addition, wild birds were found to play a role in disseminating ARG, although association to the specific WWTP could not be ascertained.
Identifiants
pubmed: 31722832
pii: S1438-4639(19)30702-3
doi: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2019.10.006
pii:
doi:
Substances chimiques
Waste Water
0
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
56-64Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2019 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.