Distribution and model prediction of antibiotic resistance genes in Weishan Lake based on the indication of Chironomidae larvae. (15th August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ding, Chengshi; Gong, Zheng; Zhang, Kai; Jiang, Wanxiang; Kang, Meiling; Tian, Zhongjing; Zhang, Yingxia; Li, Yanping; Ma, Jing; Yang, Yang; Qiu, Zhigang
• Is Part Of: Water research. Volume 222(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-08-15
• Subjects: Distribution -- Model prediction -- Antibiotic resistance genes -- Weishan Lake -- The indication of Chironomidae larvae; Water -- Pollution -- Research -- Periodicals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118862
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1354

Abstract

Highlights: Chironomidae larvae is a new indicator for ARG contamination in water. Structural equation model can be used to predict the distribution of ARGs in water. SEM can accurately guide the south-to-north water diversion and the seasonal discharge of municipal sewage to the lakes for controlling ARG contamination. Abstract: The widespread contamination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in freshwater environment are becoming a serious challenge to human health and ecological safety. Rapid and efficient monitoring of ARGs pollution is of great significance to ARGs control. Water, bottom mud, and fish have all been used to indicate ARG contamination in aquatic environments. However, it is unclear whether macrobenthic invertebrates in the food chain of aquatic environments can be indicators of ARG contamination. In this study, we demonstrated that ARGs including tetA gene, sul2 gene, and km gene were distributed in Chironomidae larvae in Weishan Lake. The ARG distribution was related to animal species, body parts, sampling sites, time, urban environment, animal farming, south-to-north water diversion, food chain, antibiotics, and water storage. Mathematical model predictions of ARG contamination in Weishan Lake were constructed based on the structural equation model (SEM) and the distribution of ARG sul2 in Chironomidae larvae. Influencing factors such as water storage, metal elements, antibiotic, and temperature were found to be closely related to the prediction of ARG contamination. This study provided a new indicator for ARG contamination in freshwater environments and a method to predict ARGs contamination. Graphical abstract: Image, graphical abstract