Accumulation of Sulfonamides and Macrolides Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Soils with Different Utilization Patterns in China

Abstract

To explore the variation in the absolute abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in different regions of China under different land use modes and different planting years, the qualitative and quantitative study of sulfonamide (sul1,sul2) and macrolide (ermB,mefA) ARGs and an integron gene (intl1) were conducted using ordinary PCR and the fluorescence quantitative technique. The results revealed that the frequencies of sulfonamides (sul1,sul2) and intl1 were all 100% in different soils, and the detection frequencies of macrolides (ermB,mefA) were 100% in facilities vegetable fields; however, in open vegetable fields, and open grain fields, the frequencies of ermB were 94%, and those of mefA were 92% and 90%, respectively. The absolute abundance of sulfonamide and macrolide ARGs was the highest in 15 years facilities vegetable soil in Heilongjiang Province. The absolute abundance of intl1 was the highest in 15 years facilities vegetable soil in Neimenggu Province. The absolute abundances of ARGs and intl1 in facilities vegetable soil of 3, 7, and 15 years were significantly higher than that in open grain fields and open vegetable fields of the same years. The absolute abundance of ARGs and intl1 in facilities vegetable fields for 7 years and 15 years were significantly higher than that for 3 years. There was no significant linear relationship between the gene accumulation and planting life in open vegetable fields and open grain fields, except for sul1 andsul2, whereas there was a significantly positive correlation in facilities vegetable soil. Correlation analysis demonstrated that there was a significant positive correlation between the abundance of ARGs and the abundance of intl1 in different soils. This reveals the accumulation of ARGs and intl1 in soils with different utilization patterns, thereby providing reference and support for secure agricultural production.