Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of wastewater treatment processes on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance fecal coliform (FC) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of FC. In addition, the occurrence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs) in surface waters receiving wastewater was evaluated. Greater resistance against penicillin (P), colisitin (CT) and ampicillin (AMP) were observed for FC isolated from effluent disinfected by chlorine (71%), than that disinfected by UV (45%). The greatest resistance against six antibiotics was recorded for FC isolates from effluent disinfected by chlorine. The prevalence of tetB and blaSHV was lowest in isolates from chlorine-disinfected effluents. The occurrence of ARG blaSHV was highest in FC isolated from effluent disinfected by UV. A significant correlation was recorded between FC levels in surface waters and the level of bacterial resistance to ampicillin (P SHV in effluents and in surface waters. TetA and tetC were highly prevalent in surface water compared to tetB. The results of the study demonstrate the widespread prevalence of ARB and ARG in wastewater and receiving water bodies. The result indicates that the source of ARB and ARG in surface waters originate from wastewater. Released ARB and ARG may serve as the source of ARG to pathogenic bacteria in surface waters. Disinfection processes may influence the selection of antibiotic resistant patterns of bacteria.
Highlights
The widespread application of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine has led to the emergence, selection, and dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in different environmental compartments throughout the world
It is assumed that the global spread of ARGs and ARB and the acquisition of the resistance genes by pathogenic bacteria are associated with the increased hospitalization and mortality rates of patients that are infected with such organisms [11]
Higher resistant to ampicillin was recorded for fecal coliform (FC) isolated from tertiary effluent disinfected by chlorine as compared 76% of FC isolated from tertiary effluent disinfected by chlorine were found to be resistant to ampicillin, compared to 42% and 44% of FC isolated from secondary effluent and tertiary effluent disinfected by UV
Summary
The widespread application of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine has led to the emergence, selection, and dissemination of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in different environmental compartments throughout the world. There is a lack of knowledge with respect to the origin of ARB and ARGs in different surface waters (e.g. stream water and bathing water) and their removal by advanced wastewater treatment processes. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), especially activated sludge, provide an opportunity for mobile genetic elements (including ARG) to mix between pathogens, opportunistic pathogens, and environmental bacteria [10]. This study was performed to evaluate the influence of wastewater treatment processes on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance fecal coliform (FC) and antibiotic resistance genes of FC.
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