Prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes from effluent of coastal aquaculture, South Korea

摘要

AbstractThe wide use of antibiotics in aquaculture for prophylactic and therapeutic purposes can potentially lead to the prevalence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). This study reports for the first time the profile of ARGs from effluents of coastal aquaculture located in South Jeolla province and Jeju Island, South Korea. Using quantitative PCR (qPCR), twenty-two ARGs encoding tetracycline resistance (tetA,tetB,tetD,tetE,tetG,tetH,tetM,tetQ,tetX,tetZ,tetBP), sulfonamide resistance (sul1,sul2), quinolone resistance (qnrD,qnrS,aac(6′)-Ib-cr), β-lactams resistance (blaTEM,blaCTX,blaSHV), macrolide resistance (ermC), florfenicol resistance (floR) and multidrug resistance (oqxA) and a class 1 integrons-integrase gene (intI1) were quantified. In addition, Illumina Miseq sequencing was applied to investigate microbial community differences across fish farm effluents. Results from qPCR showed that the total number of detected ARGs ranged from 4.24 × 10−3to 1.46 × 10−2copies/16S rRNA gene. Among them,tetBandtetDwere predominant, accounting for 74.8%–98.0% of the total ARGs. Furthermore,intI1gene showed positive correlation withtetB,tetD,tetE,tetH,tetX,tetZ tetQandsul1. Microbial community analysis revealed potential host bacteria for ARGs andintI1. Two genera,VibrioandMarinomonasbelonging toGammaproteobacteria, showed significant correlation withtetBandtetD, the most dominant ARGs in all samples. Also, operational taxonomic units (OTUs)-based network analysis revealed that ten OTUs, classified into the phylaProteobacteria,Cyanobacteria/Chloroplast,Bacteroidetes,Verrucomicrobiaand an unclassified phylum, were potential hosts of tetracycline resistance genes (i.e.,tetA,tetG,tetH,tetM,tetQandtetZ). Further systematic monitoring of ARGs is warranted for risk assessment and management of antibacterial resistance from fish farm effluents.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•We found prevalence of various ARGs from effluent of coastal aquaculture.•Among the targeted ARGs, bothtetB andtetD were predominant.•intI1 had positive correlation with tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance genes.•Network analysis revealed potential host bacteria for ARGs andintI1.