Spatial and temporal variation of antibiotic resistance in marine fish cage-culture area of Guangdong, China. (March 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Jinjun; Su, Youlu; Deng, Yiqin; Guo, Zhixun; Cheng, Changhong; Ma, Hongling; Liu, Guangfeng; Xu, Liwen; Feng, Juan
• Is Part Of: Environmental pollution. Volume 246(2019)
• Page Start: 463
• Page End: 471
• Publication Date: 2019-03
• Subjects: Antibiotic resistance genes -- Antibiotic-resistant bacteria -- Spatial and temporal variation -- Marine fish cage-culture areas; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Environmental Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Pollution -- Effets physiologiques -- Périodiques; Pollution; Pollution -- Environmental aspects; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.12.024
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-7491

Abstract

Abstract: The rapid emergence and dissemination of antibiotic resistance poses a threat to human health and to the marine environment. We have investigated the abundance and diversity of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB), during the seedling period, rearing period, and harvesting period in seven marine fish cage-culture areas in Guangdong. Spatial and temporal variations of AGRs and ARB were also analyzed. Culture-based methods and quantitative PCR were used to detect ARB and ARGs. Bacterial resistance rates were no significantly different within farming periods. The proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was extremely low (average on 1.15%), except for oxytetracycline-resistant bacteria (average on 34.15%). Vibrio was the most common ARB. S ul1, tetB, and ermB, had the highest relative abundance. The abundance of ARGs in the harvesting period was significant highest. The total abundance of ARGs was highest at Raoping and lowest at Dayawan and Liusha. Most ARGs were associated with opportunistic pathogens. The environmental factors effecting ARB and ARGs are complex, and no key factors were identified. This study provides a theoretical basis for assessing the harmfulness of ARGs and ARB to food safety and human health. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: The proportion of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was extremely low (∼1.15%). There were no differences in antibiotic resistance rates within farming periods. Sul1, tetB, and ermB were the predominant antibiotic resistance genes. Abundance of antibiotic resistance genes was highest during the harvesting period. Abstract : This study demonstrated the diversity and abundance of ARGs and ARB, as well as their spatial and temporal variation, in marine fish cage-culture areas of Guangdong, China.