Antimicrobial resistance gene surveillance in the receiving waters of an upgraded wastewater treatment plant
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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Canadian Science Publishing
2018-02-01
|
| Series: | FACETS |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2017-005 |
| _version_ | 1811336336515268608 |
|---|---|
| author | Claire N. Freeman Lena Scriver Kara D. Neudorf Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen Rob C. Jamieson Christopher K. Yost |
| author_facet | Claire N. Freeman Lena Scriver Kara D. Neudorf Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen Rob C. Jamieson Christopher K. Yost |
| author_sort | Claire N. Freeman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:37:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8b59a8ccbe754015a87a85adef084244 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2371-1671 2371-1671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T17:37:57Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | FACETS |
| spelling | doaj.art-8b59a8ccbe754015a87a85adef0842442022-12-22T02:37:18ZengCanadian Science PublishingFACETS2371-16712371-16712018-02-01312813810.1139/facets-2017-0085Antimicrobial resistance gene surveillance in the receiving waters of an upgraded wastewater treatment plantClaire N. Freeman0Lena Scriver1Kara D. Neudorf2Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen3Rob C. Jamieson4Christopher K. Yost5Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada.Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada.Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.Department of Civil and Resource Engineering, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.Department of Biology, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada.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.http://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2017-005antimicrobial resistance genegene quantificationwastewater treatmentmobile genetic elements |
| spellingShingle | Claire N. Freeman Lena Scriver Kara D. Neudorf Lisbeth Truelstrup Hansen Rob C. Jamieson Christopher K. Yost Antimicrobial resistance gene surveillance in the receiving waters of an upgraded wastewater treatment plant FACETS antimicrobial resistance gene gene quantification wastewater treatment mobile genetic elements |
| title | Antimicrobial resistance gene surveillance in the receiving waters of an upgraded wastewater treatment plant |
| title_full | Antimicrobial resistance gene surveillance in the receiving waters of an upgraded wastewater treatment plant |
| title_fullStr | Antimicrobial resistance gene surveillance in the receiving waters of an upgraded wastewater treatment plant |
| title_full_unstemmed | Antimicrobial resistance gene surveillance in the receiving waters of an upgraded wastewater treatment plant |
| title_short | Antimicrobial resistance gene surveillance in the receiving waters of an upgraded wastewater treatment plant |
| title_sort | antimicrobial resistance gene surveillance in the receiving waters of an upgraded wastewater treatment plant |
| topic | antimicrobial resistance gene gene quantification wastewater treatment mobile genetic elements |
| url | http://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2017-005 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT clairenfreeman antimicrobialresistancegenesurveillanceinthereceivingwatersofanupgradedwastewatertreatmentplant AT lenascriver antimicrobialresistancegenesurveillanceinthereceivingwatersofanupgradedwastewatertreatmentplant AT karadneudorf antimicrobialresistancegenesurveillanceinthereceivingwatersofanupgradedwastewatertreatmentplant AT lisbethtruelstruphansen antimicrobialresistancegenesurveillanceinthereceivingwatersofanupgradedwastewatertreatmentplant AT robcjamieson antimicrobialresistancegenesurveillanceinthereceivingwatersofanupgradedwastewatertreatmentplant AT christopherkyost antimicrobialresistancegenesurveillanceinthereceivingwatersofanupgradedwastewatertreatmentplant |