Abstract
Antimicrobials are widely used, not only for treating human infections, but also for treatment of livestock and in fish farms. Human habitats in Southeastern Asian countries are located in close proximity to aquatic environments. As such, the human populations within these regions are at risk of exposure to antimicrobial resistant bacteria, and thereby disseminating antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, we collected water samples from 15 sites (5 sites in Chao Phraya River, 2 sites at the mouth of Chao Phraya River, 3 sites in Ta Chin River, and 5 sites at city canals) and 12 sites (6 sites at city canals; 2 sites at chicken farms; 2 sites at pig farms; and 2 samples from sites at pig farms, which were subsequently treated at a biogas plant) in Thailand in 2013 and 2014, respectively. In total, 117 Aeromonas spp. were isolated from the water samples, and these organisms exhibited various antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. Notably, there was a significant correlation between the environmental concentration of tetracyclines and the rates of tetracycline resistance in the isolated Aeromonas spp.; however, both the concentration and rates of tetracycline resistance in samples derived from pig farms were higher than those of samples harvested from other aquatic environments. These findings suggest that the high concentrations of antimicrobials observed in these aquatic environments likely select for ARGs. Furthermore, they indicate that Aeromonas spp. comprise an effective marker for monitoring antimicrobial resistance in aquatic environments.
Highlights
The use of antimicrobials for treating/preventing bacterial infections is essential for promoting the health and welfare of humans and animals
The World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations require the development of programs for monitoring antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic bacteria, animal pathogens, and indicator bacteria derived from food-producing animals (Dehaumont, 2004; FAO/OIE/WHO, 2004)
Antimicrobials are widely used, for treating human infections, and in livestock and fish farms. Large quantities of these antimicrobials are released into aquatic environments via sewage or directly from livestock and fish farms, thereby providing a selective pressure for the development or acquisition of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and genes (ARGs) (Esteve et al, 2015)
Summary
The use of antimicrobials for treating/preventing bacterial infections is essential for promoting the health and welfare of humans and animals. The emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance is of global concern. To address these issues, the World Health Organization (WHO) and other international organizations require the development of programs for monitoring antimicrobial resistance in zoonotic bacteria, animal pathogens, and indicator bacteria derived from food-producing animals (Dehaumont, 2004; FAO/OIE/WHO, 2004). Antimicrobials are widely used, for treating human infections, and in livestock and fish farms. Large quantities of these antimicrobials are released into aquatic environments via sewage or directly from livestock and fish farms, thereby providing a selective pressure for the development or acquisition of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) and genes (ARGs) (Esteve et al, 2015). There have been few reports regarding the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance in aquatic environments
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