Role of wastewater treatment plants on environmental abundance of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Chilean rivers

2020 ◽  
Vol 223 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Bueno ◽  
Claudio Verdugo ◽  
Omar Jimenez-Lopez ◽  
Pedro Pablo Alvarez ◽  
Gerardo Gonzalez-Rocha ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance Genes

scholarly journals Quantifying and predicting antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance genes in waterbodies through a holistic approach: a study in Minnesota, United States

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Bueno ◽  
Amanda Beaudoin ◽  
William A. Arnold ◽  
Taegyu Kim ◽  
Lara E. Frankson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance Genes ◽  
Study Power ◽  
High Uncertainty

AbstractThe environment plays a key role in the spread and persistence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antimicrobials and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG) are released into the environment from sources such as wastewater treatment plants, and animal farms. This study describes an approach guided by spatial mapping to quantify and predict antimicrobials and ARG in Minnesota’s waterbodies in water and sediment at two spatial scales: macro, throughout the state, and micro, in specific waterbodies. At the macroscale, the highest concentrations across all antimicrobial classes were found near populated areas. Kernel interpolation provided an approximation of antimicrobial concentrations and ARG abundance at unsampled locations. However, there was high uncertainty in these predictions, due in part to low study power and large distances between sites. At the microscale, wastewater treatment plants had an effect on ARG abundance (sul1 and sul2 in water; blaSHV, intl1, mexB, and sul2 in sediment), but not on antimicrobial concentrations. Results from sediment reflected a long-term history, while water reflected a more transient record of antimicrobials and ARG. This study highlights the value of using spatial analyses, different spatial scales, and sampling matrices, to design an environmental monitoring approach to advance our understanding of AMR persistence and dissemination.

scholarly journals Mobilome-driven segregation of the resistome in biological wastewater treatment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura de Nies ◽  
Susheel Bhanu Busi ◽  
Benoit Josef Kunath ◽  
Patrick May ◽  
Paul Wilmes
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Biological Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Longitudinal Assessment ◽  
Aminoglycoside Resistance ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance Genes ◽  
Sulfonamide Resistance ◽  
Sulfonamide Resistance Genes

Biological wastewater treatment plants (BWWTP) are considered to be hotspots of evolution and subsequent spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) promote the mobilization and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and are thereby critical mediators of AMR within the BWWTP microbial community. At present, it is unclear whether specific AMR categories are differentially disseminated via bacteriophages (phages) or plasmids. To understand the segregation of AMR in relation to MGEs, we analyzed meta-omic (metagenomic, metatranscriptomic and metaproteomic) data systematically collected over 1.5 years from a BWWTP. Our results showed a core group of fifteen AMR categories which were found across all timepoints. Some of these AMR categories were disseminated exclusively (bacitracin) or primarily (aminoglycoside, MLS, sulfonamide) via plasmids or phages (fosfomycin and peptide), whereas others were disseminated equally by both MGEs. Subsequent expression- and protein-level analyses further demonstrated that aminoglycoside, bacitracin and sulfonamide resistance genes were expressed more by plasmids, in contrast to fosfomycin and peptide AMR expression by phages, thereby validating our genomic findings. Longitudinal assessment further underlined these findings whereby the log2-fold changes of aminoglycoside, bacitracin and sulfonamide resistance genes were increased in plasmids, while fosfomycin and peptide resistance showed similar trends in phages. In the analyzed communities, the dominant taxon Candidatus Microthrix parvicella was a major contributor to several AMR categories whereby its plasmids primarily mediated aminoglycoside resistance. Importantly, we also found AMR associated with ESKAPEE pathogens within the BWWTP, for which MGEs also contributed differentially to the dissemination of ARGs. Collectively our findings pave the way towards understanding the segmentation of AMR within MGEs, thereby shedding new light on resistome populations and their mediators, essential elements that are of immediate relevance to human health.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial resistance gene surveillance in the receiving waters of an upgraded wastewater treatment plant

FACETS ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire N. Freeman ◽  
Lena Scriver ◽  
Kara D. Neudorf ◽  
Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen ◽  
Rob C. Jamieson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Rrna Gene ◽  
Treated Effluent ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance Genes ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance Gene ◽  
The Impact

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as hotspots for antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and thus represent a critical point where patterns in ARG abundances can be monitored prior to their release into the environment. The aim of the current study was to measure the impact of the release of the final treated effluent (FE) on the abundance of ARGs in the receiving water of a recently upgraded WWTP in the Canadian prairies. Sample nutrient content (phosphorous and nitrogen species) was measured as a proxy for WWTP functional performance, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to measure the abundance of eight ARGs, the intI1 gene associated with class I integrons, and the 16S rRNA gene. The genes ermB, sul1, intI1, blaCTX-M, qnrS, and tetO all had higher abundances downstream of the WWTP, consistent with the genes with highest abundance in the FE. These findings are consistent with the increasing evidence suggesting that human activity affects the abundances of ARGs in the environment. Although the degree of risk associated with releasing ARGs into the environment is still unclear, understanding the environmental dimension of this threat will help develop informed management policies to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance and protect public health.

scholarly journals Role of different wastewater treatment plants in antibiotic resistance spreading

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Bonetta ◽  
C Pignata ◽  
S a Bonetta ◽  
E Gasparro ◽  
E Lorenzi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
One Health ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Water Cycle ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Urban Water ◽  
Urban Water Cycle

Abstract The global action plan on antimicrobial resistance reports the necessity to develop standards and guidance for the presence of antimicrobial agents in the environment, especially in wastewater, highlighting its possible role in the antibiotic resistance spreading. In addition, the New European One Health Action Plan against Antimicrobial Resistance underlines the need to support research into knowledge gaps on the release of resistant microorganisms into the environment and their dissemination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of Antibiotic Resistance Bacteria (ARB) and Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARG) in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). At this scope, untreated sewage and treated effluents of three different WWTPs (A, B and C) were sampled for one year. Sample dilutions were plated on R2Agar added/not-added with 4 different antibiotics (ampicillin 32mg/L; tetracycline 16 mg/L; chloramphenicol 32 mg/L; sulfamethoxazole 50,4 mg/L) to evaluate the percentage of antibiotic resistant bacteria and their WWTPs removal rate (%). DNA extraction on the filter used to concentrate the wastewater samples was performed to reveal the ARG presence; subsequently specific PCRs for ARG (blaTEM, tetA, sul II, sul III) were carried out. ARB were detected in all samples analysed. The highest antibiotic resistance percentage was revealed in the sewage (mean 21,7%±4,8) and effluent (mean 21,1%±3,0) of the three wastewater treatment plants for sulfamethoxazole. Moreover, sul II was the most present gene in the samples (81% of all samples, 89 % of sewages and 72% of effluents). The lower WWTPs removal was recovered in the plant B for the tetracycline (95, 7%). The results obtained underlines the need to monitor WWTP as critical hot spot for the antibiotic resistance spreading also considering the One Health approach. Furthermore, the results obtained could suggest interventions to reduce the spread of the antibiotic resistance in the integrated urban water cycle. Key messages The information obtained could provide usefulness information about the role of wastewater treatment plant in the antibiotic resistance spreading. The results could contribute to suggest the interventions targeted to reduce the antibiotic resistance phenomenon in the integrated urban water cycle.

scholarly journals Pharmaceuticals in Wastewater Treatment Plants: A Systematic Review on the Substances of Greatest Concern Responsible for the Development of Antimicrobial Resistance

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 6670
Author(s):  
Gabriele Frascaroli ◽  
Deborah Reid ◽  
Colin Hunter ◽  
Joanne Roberts ◽  
Karin Helwig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Primary Source ◽  
Antimicrobial Substances ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance Genes ◽  
Treatment Facilities

In recent years, there is a growing concern about the alarming spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in different environments. Increasingly, many species of bacteria, fungi and viruses are becoming immune to the most commonly used pharmaceuticals. One of the causes of the development of the resistance is the persistence of these drugs, excreted by humans, in municipal and hospital wastewater (WW). Consequently, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are a primary source of antimicrobial resistance genes as novel pollutants. This systematic review sought to examine the relevant literature on pharmaceutical residues (PRs) responsible for AMR in municipal and hospital WW in order to propose a classification of the PRs of greatest concern and provide an updated source for AMR management in WWTPs. Among 546 studies collected from four databases, 18 were included in the present review. The internal and external validity of each study was assessed, and the risk of bias was evaluated on a 20-parameter basis. Results were combined in a narrative synthesis discussing influent and effluent PR concentrations at 88 WWTPs, seasonal variations, differences between hospital and municipal WW, environmental risk assessment values of antimicrobial substances and treatment facilities removal efficiencies. Among the 45 PRs responsible for AMR evaluated in this study, the antibiotics ciprofloxacin, clarithromycin, erythromycin, metronidazole, ofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim constitute a considerable risk in terms of ubiquitous distribution, worrying concentrations, risk quotient values and resistance to removal treatments. Gaps in knowledge, data and information reported in this review will provide a valuable source for managing AMR in WWTPs.

The Role of Flies in Disseminating Plasmids with Antimicrobial-Resistance Genes Between Farms

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (5) ◽  
pp. 562-569 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masaru Usui ◽  
Takahiro Shirakawa ◽  
Akira Fukuda ◽  
Yutaka Tamura
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance Genes
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