Β-lactam resistance genes in bacteriophage and bacterial DNA from wastewater, river water, and irrigation water in Washington State. (15th September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhang, Anyun; Call, Douglas R.; Besser, Thomas E.; Liu, Jinxin; Jones, Lisa; Wang, Hongning; Davis, Margaret A.
• Is Part Of: Water research. Volume 161(2019)
• Page Start: 335
• Page End: 340
• Publication Date: 2019-09-15
• Subjects: Antimicrobial resistance -- Bacteriophage -- Wastewater -- β-lactamases -- blaCTX-m -- BlaNDM-1; Water -- Pollution -- Research -- Periodicals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.06.026
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1354

Abstract

Abstract: Our objective was to determine whether β-lactamase genes are carried within bacteriophage capsids, as a first step towards exploring the possible role of bacteriophages as vehicles for dispersal of antimicrobial resistance genes through an agricultural region of Washington State. Water samples (n = 178) from municipal wastewater treatment plants, river and irrigation canals were collected over a period of eight months. The occurrence of four β-lactam resistance gene groups ( bla TEM, bla CTX-M, bla PSE and bla CMY-2 ) and three carbapenem resistance genes ( bla KPC, bla OXA-48 -like, and bla NDM ) in bacterial and phage fractions of water samples was evaluated by PCR. All of the seven targeted resistance genes were detected both in wastewater and river water samples. Relatively high proportions of samples (7.3%–64.9%) positive for resistance genes were found in bacteriophage fractions of water samples compared to the bacterial fractions (5.4%–36.8%). bla OXA-48 -like (57.3%) and bla TEM (64.0%) were the most prevalent antimicrobial resistance genes detected at all the sampling points. Resistance genes are commonly present in treated wastewater flowing through municipal and agricultural environments, indicating a plausible role for this water in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance traits, including bla CTX-M . Highlights: Water from wastewater, river and canals in Washington State was sampled. β-lactamase genes were detected in high proportions of samples. Phage fractions of samples were more frequently positive than bacterial fractions. bla NDM-1 was detected in over 20% of phage fractions of samples.