Occurence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Wastewater and Surface Waters

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00020711%3A_____%2F25%3A10155417" target="_blank" >RIV/00020711:_____/25:10155417 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://watermicro2025.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Poster-abstract-book.pdf" target="_blank" >https://watermicro2025.nl/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Poster-abstract-book.pdf</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

—

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Occurence of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Wastewater and Surface Waters

Original language description

The global spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major public health threat, with wastewater and surface waters serving as significant reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and resistant bacteria (ARB). In this study, a pilot screening was conducted to assess the occurrence and distribution of selected ARGs in different aquatic environments of Czech rivers. A total of 67 samples were collected from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and surface waters, categorized as WWTP influent (raw wastewater), WWTP effluent (treated wastewater), upstream (surface water samples collected above WWTP), and downstream (surface water samples collected below WWTP discharge). Eight selected ARGs intI1 (integrase with potential of horizontal gene transfer), sul1 (resistance to sulfonamides), aadA1 (resistance to aminoglycosides), ermB (resistance to macrolides and lincosamides), tetW (resistance to tetracyclins), blaCTX-M1 (resistance to ß-lactams), blaKPC (resistance to carbapenems), and vanA (resistance to vancomycin) were quantified using quantitative PCR (qPCR), with the 16S rDNA gene employed as an indicator of total bacterial load. In parallel, culture-based methods were used to isolate Escherichia coli and assess their phenotypic antibiotic resistance through the disk diffusion method.The highest concentrations of ARGs were found in WWTP influent samples, with genes such as intI1, sul1, aadA1, and ermB detected in 100% of samples reaching the values in a range of 104-1010 gene equivalents GE/100ml. In contrast, blaCTX-M1, blaKPC, and vanA exhibited lower prevalence, particularly in surface water samples. Relative concentrations showed values in units of percentages relative to the 16S rDNA gene. Notably, intI1, aadA1, sul1 were present at higher relative concentrations in WWTP effluent samples compared to WWTP influent samples, Moreover, differences between the results of molecular (qPCR) and culture-based (disk diffusion) methods were observed. The study&apos;s findings indicate that WWTPs not only accumulate ARGs but may also function as hotspots for the selection and dissemination of ARB due to selective pressures during treatment, which has been observed in other wastewater studies. Moreover, similar patterns of prevalence have been described in other studies that have identified integrons as important mechanisms of ARGs spread.The differences observed between molecular and culture-based methods highlight the complexity of AMR detection and underline the importance of integrating multiple approaches to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the significance of AMR in aquatic environment.ConclusionThis pilot study demonstrates that wastewater treatment processes can contribute to the selection and dissemination of ARGs in the environment. Regular monitoring and the implementation of more efficient treatment technologies are essential to mitigate the possible risks associated with the spread of AMR in the water environment.ImpactThe findings from this study support the urgent need for increased attention to monitoring AMR in the environment, particularly to determine the status of its occurrence, to support improvements in wastewater treatment technologies and to determine the level of risk to public health. These findings have important implications for public health policy and contribute to global efforts to control the spread of AMR in the environment.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

O - Miscellaneous

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10606 - Microbiology

Project

<a href="/en/project/SS02030027" target="_blank" >SS02030027: Water systems and water management in the Czech Republic in conditions of climate change</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů