Detecting genes associated with antimicrobial resistance and pathogen virulence in three New Zealand rivers

PeerJ

article

Meredith Davis¹  Anne C. Midwinter²  Richard Cosgrove³  Russell G. Death¹ 

[1] School of Agriculture and the Environment, Massey University;Molecular Epidemiology and Veterinary Public Health Laboratory - Hopkirk Research Institute, School of Veterinary Science, Massey University;Fish and Game New Zealand

关键词: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR);    E. coli;    eDNA;    Pathogen;    Water quality;    Zoonoses;   

DOI  :  10.7717/peerj.12440

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Inra

【 摘 要 】

The emergence of clinically significant antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria is frequently attributed to the use of antimicrobials in humans and livestock and is often found concurrently with human and animal pathogens. However, the incidence and natural drivers of antimicrobial resistance and pathogenic virulence in the environment, including waterways and ground water, are poorly understood. Freshwater monitoring for microbial pollution relies on culturing bacterial species indicative of faecal pollution, but detection of genes linked to antimicrobial resistance and/or those linked to virulence is a potentially superior alternative. We collected water and sediment samples in the autumn and spring from three rivers in Canterbury, New Zealand; sites were above and below reaches draining intensive dairy farming. Samples were tested for loci associated with the AMR-related group 1 CTX-M enzyme production (blaCTX-M) and Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The blaCTX-M locus was only detected during spring and was more prevalent downstream of intensive dairy farms. Loci associated with STEC were detected in both the autumn and spring, again predominantly downstream of intensive dairying. This cross-sectional study suggests that targeted testing of environmental DNA is a useful tool for monitoring waterways. Further studies are now needed to extend our observations across seasons and to examine the relationship between the presence of these genetic elements and the incidence of disease in humans.

【 授权许可】

CC BY