Co-selection and stability of bacterial antibiotic resistance by arsenic pollution accidents in source water. (February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Menglu; Wan, Kun; Zeng, Jie; Lin, Wenfang; Ye, Chengsong; Yu, Xin
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 135(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-02
• Subjects: Accidental arsenic pollution -- Co-selection -- Bacterial antibiotic resistance -- Antibiotic resistance genes -- Drinking water; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105351
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Highlights: Accident-level arsenic (III) rapidly enhanced bacterial antibiotic resistance (BAR). ARGs and mobile genetic elements were significantly enriched. Co-selected resistance maintained for at least 4 days without As (III) and antibiotics. Cross -resistance potentially involved in As (III) shock loading co-selection. Source water heavy metal pollution incidents facilitate the dissemination of BAR. Abstract: Frequent heavy-metal pollution accidents severely deteriorated the source water quality of drinking water treatment plants (DWTP). Limited data have explicitly addressed the impact of these incidents on bacterial antibiotic resistance (BAR). In present study, we investigated the shift of antibiotic resistome caused by heavy metal pollution incidents via simulating an arsenic shock loading [As (III)], along with the associated risks imposed on drinking water systems. The results indicated that a quick co-selection of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) was achieved after exposure to 0.2–1 mg/L As (III) for only 6 h, meanwhile, there was an increase of relative abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and mobile genetic elements. Most of the co-selected BAR could be maintained for at least 4 days in the absence of As (III) and antibiotics, implying that the pollution in source water possibly contributed to the preservation and proliferation of antibiotic resistance determinants in the subsequent DWTP. Bacterial community structure analysis showed a strong correlation between bacterial community shift and BAR promotion, and enrichment of opportunistic bacteria (e.g. Escherichia-Shigella, Empedobacter sp. and Elizabethkingia sp.). The results indicated a potential epidemiological threat to the public due to accident-level arsenic contamination in the source water. This study gave insight into understanding the source water pollution accidents from the perspective of bio-hazard and biological risks, and highlighted a neglected important source of BAR in drinking water systems.