Antibiotic contamination and occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in aquatic environments of northern Vietnam

TiO2 and Au-TiO2 Nanomaterials for Rapid Photocatalytic Degradation of Antibiotic Residues in Aquaculture Wastewater

Antibiotic residues in aquaculture wastewater are considered as an emerging environmental problem, as they are not efficiently removed in wastewater treatment plants. To address this issue, we fabricated TiO₂ nanotube arrays (TNAs), TiO₂ nanowires on nanotube arrays (TNWs/TNAs), Au nanoparticle (NP)-decorated-TNAs, and TNWs/TNAs, which were applied for assessing the photocatalytic degradation of eight antibiotics, simultaneously. The TNAs and TNWs/TNAs were synthesized by anodization using an aqueous NH₄F/ethylene glycol solution. Au NPs were synthesized by chemical reduction method, and used to decorate on TNAs and TNWs/TNAs. All the TiO₂ nanostructures exhibited anatase phase and well-defined morphology. The photocatalytic performance of TNAs, TNWs/TNAs, Au-TNAs and Au-TNWs/TNAs was studied by monitoring the degradation of amoxicillin, ampicillin, doxycycline, oxytetracycline, lincomycin, vancomycin, sulfamethazine, and sulfamethoxazole under ultraviolet (UV)-visible (VIS), or VIS illumination by LC-MS/MS method. All the four kinds of nanomaterials degraded the antibiotics effectively and rapidly, in which most antibiotics were removed completely after 20 min treatment. The Au-TNWs/TNAs exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity in degradation of the eight antibiotics. For example, reaction rate constants of Au-TNWs/TNAs for degradation of lincomycin reached 0.26 min⁻¹ and 0.096 min⁻¹ under UV-VIS and VIS irradiation, respectively; and they were even higher for the other antibiotics. The excellent photocatalytic activity of Au-TNWs/TNAs was attributed to the synergistic effects of: (1) The larger surface area of TNWs/TNAs as compared to TNAs, and (2) surface plasmonic effect in Au NPs to enhance the visible light harvesting.

Diversity and function of the microbial community under strong selective pressure of rotifers

We unearthed some interesting microecological discoveries while selecting for the most beneficial bacterial strains to be used as probiotics in Lecane inermis rotifer mass culture. For 3 years, we maintained the cultures of L. inermis, with selection for the highest growth rate and resistance to potential contamination. Then, we conducted further selection and isolation in two groups: rotifers inoculated with the bacterial consortium isolated from the rotifer cultures, and rotifers fed with a commercial bioproduct. Selection was conducted in demanding conditions, with particulate matter suspended in spring water as a substrate, without aeration and under strong consumer pressure, and led to selection of two cultivable strains isolated from the optimal rotifers culture. According to molecular analysis, these strains were Aeromonas veronii and Pseudomonas mosselii. Biolog® ECO plate tests showed that both investigated bacterial communities metabolized wide but similar range of substrates. Therefore, intensely selective conditions led to considerable reduction in bacterial community regarding taxonomy, but not in metabolic activity, showing a functional composition decoupling. Aside from this result, our novel selection method dedicated to the sustainable culture of two trophic levels, a directed selection procedure (DSC), could potentially lead to the development of biotechnologically valuable strains with high metabolic activity and the ability to metabolize different sorts of substrate without harmful impact on higher trophic levels.

Fast and Effective Route for Removing Methylene Blue from Aqueous Solution by Using Red Mud-Activated Graphite Composites

In this work, the mixture of red mud slurry and inorganic salt ((NH4)2SO4) has been used as an electrolyte for electrochemical activation of graphite. The red mud-activated graphite composite was then used as an adsorbent for removing methylene blue from aqueous solution by the batch method. The effect of pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and the initial concentration of methylene blue was investigated. The optimal condition was found at pH 6, contact time 120 min, and amount of adsorbent 1 mg/L. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 89.28 mg/g based on the Langmuir isotherm equation, suggesting that the red mud-activated graphite composite is a very potential adsorbent for removing methylene blue and is also used in other coloured wastewater treatments.

Prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and residual antimicrobials in the environment in Vietnam

Emergence and spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, including extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli, have become serious problems worldwide. Recent studies conducted in Vietnam revealed that ESBL-producing E. coli are widely distributed in food animals and people. CTX-M-9 and CTX-M-1 are the most prevalent β-lactamases among the identified ESBLs. Furthermore, most of the ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were multi-drug resistant. Residual antimicrobials such as sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, sulfadimidine, cephalexin, and sulfadiazine were also detected at a high level in both animal meats and environmental water collected from several cities, including Ho Chi Minh city and Can Tho city. These recent studies indicated that improper use of antimicrobials in animal-originated food production might contribute to the emergence and high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in Vietnam. Although clonal ESBL-producing E. coli was not identified, CTX-M-55 gene-carrying plasmids with similar sizes (105-139 kb) have been commonly detected in the ESBL-producing E. coli strains isolated from various food animals and human beings. This finding strongly suggests that horizontal transfer of the CTX-M plasmid among various E. coli strains played a critical role in the emergence and high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in Vietnam.

Occurrence of sul and tet(M) genes in bacterial community in Japanese marine aquaculture environment throughout the year: Profile comparison with Taiwanese and Finnish aquaculture waters

The use of antibiotics in aquaculture causes selection pressure for antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) may persist in ARB and the environment for long time even after stopping drug administration. Here we show monthly differences in the occurrences of genes conferring resistance to sulfonamides (i.e. sul1, sul2, sul3), and tetracyclines (tet(M)) in Japanese aquaculture seawater accompanied by records of drug administration. sul2 was found to persist throughout the year, whereas the occurrences of sul1, sul3, and tet(M) changed month-to-month. sul3 and tet(M) were detected in natural bacterial assemblages in May and July, but not in colony-forming bacteria, thus suggesting that the sul3 was harbored by the non-culturable fraction of the bacterial community. Comparison of results from Taiwanese, Japanese, and Finnish aquaculture waters reveals that the profile of sul genes and tet(M) in Taiwan resembles that in Japan, but is distinct from that in Finland. To our knowledge, this work represents the first report to use the same method to compare the dynamics of sul genes and tet(M) in aquaculture seawater in different countries.

Antibiotic resistance in urban runoff

Aquatic ecosystems subjected to anthropogenic pressures are places of rapid evolution of microbial communities and likely hotspots for selection and emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria. In urban settings, water quality and the risk of infection are generally assessed in sewers and in effluents of wastewater treatment plants. Physical and chemical parameters as well as the presence of antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes of resistance are driven by urban activities, with adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems. In this paper we review the environmental pressures exerted on bacterial communities in urban runoff waters and discuss the impact of these settings on antibiotic resistance. Considering the worrisome epidemiology of infectious diseases and estimated mortality due to antimicrobial resistance in the coming decades, there is an urgent need to identify all environmental reservoirs of resistant bacteria and resistance genes to complete our knowledge of the epidemiological cycle and of the dynamics of urban antibiotic resistance.

Methods for field measurement of antibiotic concentrations: limitations and outlook

The growing prevalence of antibiotic resistance poses an increasingly serious threat to human health. Although an important driver of antibiotic resistance is the continuous exposure of bacteria to sublethal concentrations of antibiotics in natural environments, antibiotic pollutants are not currently tracked globally or systematically. This limits the international capacity to address the rise of antibiotic resistance at its source. To address this lack of data, the development of methods to measure antibiotic concentrations on-site is essential. These methods, ideally, must be sensitive to sublethal concentrations of antibiotics and require minimal technical expertise. Furthermore, factors such as cost, selectivity, biosafety and the ability to multiplex must be evaluated in the context of field use. Based on these criteria, we provide a critical review of current methods in antibiotic detection and evaluate their adaptability for use on-site. We categorize these methods into microbiological assays, physical and chemical assays, immunoassays, aptasensors and whole-cell biosensors. We recommend continued development of a dipstick or microfluidics approach with a bacterial promoter-based mechanism and colorimetric output. This technique would incorporate the advantageous aspects of existing methods, maximize shelf-life and ease-of-use, and require minimal resources to implement in the field.

Insight into the diversity of antibiotic resistance genes in the intestinal bacteria of shrimp Penaeus vannamei by culture-dependent and independent approaches

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) that distributed in antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARBs) are widespread in aquaculture and have great threats to the aquatic organism as well as to human. However, our understanding about the risk of ARGs to the health of aquatic organism is still limited. In the present study, we got a deep insight into the diversity of ARGs in the intestinal bacteria of shrimp by culture-dependent and independent approaches. Results of the PCR-based detection and culture-dependent analysis indicated that the tetracycline, sulfadiazine, quinolone and erythromycin resistance genes were prevalent in the commercial shrimps that bought from aquatic markets or supermarket. The culture-independent plasmid metagenomic analysis identified 62 different ARGs, which were classified into 21 types, with abundances ranging from 13 to 1418 ppm. The analysis suggested that most of the ARGs come from the plasmids originating from Vibrio (accounted for 2.8-51%) and Aeromonas (accounted for 16-55%), and the Vibrio group was concluded to be the main bacterial pathogen that probably resulted in the shrimp disease. Accordingly, the plasmid metagenomic that focuses on the mobile genetic elements has great potential on the identification of ARGs in complex environments.

Fabrication of Ag2O/Ag decorated ZnAl-layered double hydroxide with enhanced visible light photocatalytic activity for tetracycline degradation

The photocatalytic performance of layered double hydroxides (LDH) is usually confined to the slow interface mobility and high recombination rate of photogenerated electron-hole pairs in material. To overcome the low photocatalytic efficiency, novel Ag₂O/Ag decorated LDH (LDH-Ag₂O/Ag) was successfully synthesized by depositing Ag₂O on the surface of LDH and then converted to Ag° nanoparticles in the right position after heat treatment. The as-synthesized LDH-Ag₂O/Ag composites were characterized by Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-vis DRS), photoluminescence spectra (PL) and transient photocurrent (TPC) analysis. Compared with virgin LDH, the photocatalytic activities of LDH-Ag₂O/Ag composites were enhanced significantly. The optimum photocatalytic efficiency of LDH-Ag₁₀ (0.0184 min^-1) was nearly 46 times higher than that of virgin LDH (0.0004 min^-1). The result of active species trapping experiments indicated that •OH, h⁺, and •O₂^- have an effect on the TC degradation, where •OH played the predominant role during the photocatalytic process. The possible photocatalytic mechanisms involving the charge transfer pathway and reactive species generation during the process of TC degradation were also discussed. The improved photocatalytic activity of LDH-Ag₂O/Ag could be attributed to the synergetic effect between LDH and Ag₂O/Ag that extended visible light range and reduced photogenerated charge carriers recombination.

Occurrence and distribution of trace levels of antibiotics in surface waters and soils driven by non-point source pollution and anthropogenic pressure

Antibiotics in surface waters and soils are growing public health concerns and treated wastewater has often been identified as the main source of antibiotics. However, few studies have been conducted to evaluate the occurrence and concentrations of antibiotics in coastal cities without direct impact of wastewater discharge. In this study, the occurrence of 14 antibiotics including four macrolides, three sulfonamides, three β-lactams, lincomycin, chloramphenicol, furazolidon, and monensin in surface waters and soils in Singapore were analyzed with SPE-LC-ESI-MS/MS. The detected concentrations of antibiotics were all below 82.5 ng/L in surface waters and below 80.6 ng/g dry wt in soils. These concentrations were significantly lower than other cities that were under the impact of treated wastewater discharge, suggesting that reduction of treated wastewater discharge reduces occurrence of antibiotics in the environment. However, the wide occurrence of trace levels of antibiotics suggest that other factors may have contributed to detected environmental antibiotics. Population density was positively correlated with concentrations of clarithromycin, lincomycin, azithromycin, and sulfamethoxazole in surface waters, suggesting that non-point source pollution due to anthropogenic pressure may contribute to the wide detection of trace levels of antibiotics. The potential impact of antibiotic use, natural production, and half-lives of antibiotics were further discussed. Further studies are needed to evaluate how anthropogenic activities other than wastewater discharge may contribute to the occurrence of trace level antibiotics and their associated health risks in urban environments.

Evaluation of antibiotic resistant lactose fermentative opportunistic pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae bacteria and blaTEM-2 gene in cephalosporin wastewater and its discharge receiving river

This study investigated the concentration of cephalosporin, the resistant levels of lactose fermentative opportunistic pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae bacteria (LFOPEB) against seven antibiotics and one cephalosporin-resistant gene in cephalosporin wastewater (CPWW) treatment plant and its discharge receiving river. Although large numbers of bacteria have been removed during the CPWW treatment process, the antibiotic resistant rates of the isolates to β-lactam antibiotics significantly increased (p = 0.032) after treatment, while the percentage of resistant LFOPEB to non-β-lactam antibiotics did not change dramatically. Furthermore, the discharge of the effluent of CPWW treatment plant (CPWW_eff) led to an obvious increase in the percentages of β-lactam antibiotic-resistant LFOPEB and relative abundance of the blaTEM-2 gene in the downstream receiving river (RW_down) in comparison with those in the upstream receiving river (RW_up). The antibiotic resistant phenotypes of isolates in the influent of CPWW treatment plant (CPWW_in), CPWW_eff and RW_down appeared to be seriously affected by the cephalosporin residues, which suggested that main antibiotic resistance phenotypes in antibiotic contaminated water were closely associated with its antibiotic composition. Therefore, CPWW treatment process has been proved to result in selective growth of ARB and proliferation of ARG. Besides, CPWW_eff was also proved to be an important supplier of ARB and ARG to the receiving river.

Occurrence of antibiotic residues and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in effluents of pharmaceutical manufacturers and other sources around Hanoi, Vietnam

Pharmaceutical manufacturers in Vietnam are producing a wide variety of antibiotics for human and veterinary use. Consequently, the water discharged from those facilities can contain residues of antibiotics, which could have adverse impact on the environment. However, studies on the occurrence of antibiotics in the wastewater from pharmaceutical manufacturers in Vietnam are almost non-existent. In this study, water samples were collected at around the outlets of four pharmaceutical manufacturing plants as well as from a hospital and an aquaculture farm around Hanoi in 2016 and 2017. Fifteen antibiotics from four major classes (β-lactam, quinolones, macrolides, sulfonamides) were monitored, using a validated LC-MS/MS method, based on their number of registrations at the Ministry of Health. Ten antibiotics, ampicillin, cefuroxime, cefotaxime, clarithromycin, azithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, and ciprofloxacin were detected in the samples at different concentrations. Notably, sulfonamides and quinolones were occasionally detected at very high concentration, such as sulfamethoxazole (252 μg/L), trimethoprim (107 μg/L), ofloxacin (85 μg/L), and ciprofloxacin (41 μg/L). In this study, concentrations of antibiotic residues in effluent of pharmaceutical plants were higher than those from other sources. The antibiotic-resistance tests indicated the widespread resistance to common antibiotics like quinolone and sulfonamides in the collected samples. This finding suggests that wastewater from pharmaceutical manufacturers could be an important source of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the aquatic environment of Vietnam.

Understanding the ozonated degradation of sulfadimethoxine, exploration of reaction site, and classification of degradation products

Ozonation has been demonstrated to be an efficient method of water treatment. In this study, the degradation of 20 mg/L of sulfadimethoxine (SDM) in different water matrices during ozonation was investigated. At pH 7.0, 100% removal of SDM was achieved by ozonation within 10 min. The degradation of SDM was more pronounced at acidic pH than under ambient environmental conditions, and was also dependent on different water matrices. Both direct and indirect oxidation of SDM by ozone were observed, and it was also shown that both ozone molecules and hydroxyl radicals were involved in the SDM degradation process, whereas it was found that the saturated ring of SDM made it O₃-recalcitrant. Seven transformation products (TPs) were identified during SDM ozonation, allowing three degradation pathways to be proposed. Additionally, the main reaction sites, including N (7) and C (2) on the aniline ring, and the ^__S^__N^__ bond, were confirmed both experimentally and theoretically. The toxicity evolution during the degradation process was investigated, and the results showed no toxic intermediate products obtained during ozonation.

Induced-fit adsorption of diol-based porous organic polymers for tetracycline removal

Adsorption is recognized as one of the most efficient approaches for antibiotics removal from water. Inspired by the enzyme-substrate interaction model, we proposed induced-fit adsorption (IFA) model, and rationally designed and fabricated diol-based porous organic polymers (POPs) as adsorbents for tetracycline (TC) removal. For 2,3-naphthalenediol-based POP (NTdiol-POP), the preferable geometry of diol-groups contributed to the high binding energy with TC species and flexible methylene linkages between neighboring rigid naphthalene rings gave rise to precisely matching between TC species and adsorbents, that is, the induced-fit conformation change. As a result, NTdiol-POP exhibited a high saturated adsorption capacity of 155.8 mg g^-1. More importantly, NTdiol-POP exhibited excellent TC removal efficiencies in both concentrated solution (96% for 4 p.p.m) and trace level solution (97% for 250 p.p.b).

The effects of marine farm-scale sequentially integrated multi-trophic aquaculture systems on microbial community composition, prevalence of sulfonamide-resistant bacteria and sulfonamide resistance gene sul1

Aquaculture, one of the most important food production practices worldwide, faces serious challenges of mitigating the detrimental impacts of intensive farming on the environment and increased prevalence of antibiotic resistance. To develop an environment-friendly aquaculture system, a land-based and farm-scale sequentially integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system was established for farming Chanos chanos in southwestern Taiwan. In this system, fishes are cultured in combination with organic extractive shellfish and inorganic extractive seaweed. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sulfonamide-resistant bacteria, microbial community structure, and occurrence of sulfonamide resistance genes in the IMTA and traditional aquaculture systems. Water and sediment samples were collected before raising and after harvesting C. chanos. Our results showed that the occurrence of sulfonamide-resistant phenotypes in the IMTA system was comparable with that in influent seawater, while the traditional system exhibited a high sulfonamide resistance rate. Additionally, the traditional system resulted in a deviation of the bacterial community structure from that of seawater. In the water samples from the IMTA system and influent seawater, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the two dominant phyla, representing approximately 75% and 15% of the community, respectively. In the traditional system, Actinobacteria, constituting 39% of the community, was the dominant bacterial phylum. Thirty-one sulfonamide-resistant bacterial species were isolated. In conclusion, a sequentially IMTA system showed superior ability to maintain the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the integrity of the bacterial community structure compared to the traditional farming system, representing a potentially valuable aquaculture system for preserving the sustainability of the marine environment.

Adsorption properties, kinetics & thermodynamics of tetracycline on carboxymethyl-chitosan reformed montmorillonite

This paper describes a modification method of Na-montmorillonite (Na-Mt) with carboxymethyl-chitosan (CMC). The as-prepared samples were analyzed by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface analyzer and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Two common tetracycline antibiotics, tetracycline (TET) and chlortetracycline (CTC), were selected as the represented pollutants and adsorbed by CMC-Mt under different experimental conditions. The intercalation of CMC obviously amplified the basal spacing of the interlayers confirmed by XRD measurements and improved the adsorption capacities of montmorillonite to some degree. The results showed that the tetracycline antibiotic sorption onto CMC-Mt was mainly dependent on pH and was not affected by temperature. Besides, the removal of TET and CTC rapidly attained an equilibrium within 2 h of contact time. The kinetic data of adsorption was determined by first-order, second-order kinetics and intraparticle diffusion models. The kinetic study indicates that the TET and CTC adsorption processes obeyed the second-order kinetics. The Freundlich isotherm study was in agreement with the practical data, suggesting a heterogeneous sorption process. Furthermore, the thermodynamic studies revealed that the removal process was more spontaneous at a lower temperature, implying it an exothermic reaction. The synthesized adsorbent CMC-Mt can be widely used in the treatment of wastewater.

Evaluation of the leaching of florfenicol from coated medicated fish feed into water

Florfenicol is one of the most-used antimicrobial agents in global fish farming. Nevertheless, in most countries, its use is not conducted in accordance with good practices. The aim of this work was to evaluate the leaching of florfenicol from coated fish feed into the water. Analytical methods were developed and validated for the quantitation of florfenicol in medicated feed and water by UHPLC-MS/MS. Florfenicol residues in the water were quantified after 5- and 15-min exposures of the medicated feed in the water at 22 and 28 °C and at pH 4.5 and 8.0. The influence of pellet size and three coating agents (vegetable oil, carboxymethylcellulose, and low-methoxylated pectin) on the leaching of the drug was also assessed. Pellet size, coating agent, water temperature, and time of exposure significantly (p < 0.05) affected florfenicol leaching, while water pH did not interfere with the leaching. Coating with vegetable oil was the most efficient method to reduce florfenicol leaching, while coating with carboxymethylcellulose presented the highest leaching (approximately 60% after 15 min at 28 °C). Thus, the coating agent has a significant effect on the florfenicol leaching rate and, consequently, on the necessary dose of the drug to be administered. Moreover, it is worth mentioning that higher florfenicol leaching will pose a greater risk to environmental health, specifically in terms of the development of bacteria resistant to florfenicol. Additional studies are needed with other polymers and veterinary drugs used in medicated feed for fish farming.

Occurrence and removal of sulfonamide antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in conventional and advanced drinking water treatment processes

Sulfonamides (SAs) and sul antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have been extensively detected in drinking water sources and warrant further studies on the removal of them in different drinking water treatment processes (DWTPs). The prevalence of 13 SAs, sul1, sul2 and class I integrase gene intI1 in conventional and advanced processes was investigated using HPLC-MS/MS and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR), respectively. The most abundant SA was sulfamethoxazole, with the maximum concentration of 67.27 ng/L. High concentration of sulfamethoxazole was also measured in finished water in both conventional (22.05 ng/L) and advanced (11.24 ng/L) processes. Overall, the removal efficiency of advanced process for each SA was higher than that of conventional process, except for sulfameter. The absolute concentrations of sul1, sul2 and intI1 in raw water ranged from 1.8 × 10³ to 2.4 × 10⁵ gene abundance/mL. After treatment, the residual sul ARGs and intI1 in finished water still remained at 10² - 10⁴ gene abundance/mL. Conventional treatment units, including flocculation/sedimentation/sand filtration, played a more important role in removing sul1, sul2 and intI1 than oxidation (chlorination or ozonation) and granular activated carbon filtration treatments. Based on this work, more investigations are needed to help improve the removal of both antibiotics and ARGs in DWTPs.

Spatiotemporal profile of tetracycline and sulfonamide and their resistance on a catchment scale

Tetracyclines and sulfonamides are the two classes of antibiotics commonly used in the medical, industrial and agricultural activities. Their extensive usage has caused the proliferation and propagation of resistant bacteria (ARB) and resistance genes (ARGs) in the environment. In this study, the occurrence and distribution of tetracyclines (TC, OTC and CTC) and sulfonamides (SMX, SCX and TMP), their associated ARB and ARGs were quantified in water and sediments collected from the mainstream of Liaohe River, northeast China. The average concentration of tetracyclines was higher in May, while the concentration of sulfonamides was slightly higher in October. The highest concentrations of the total tetracyclines and sulfonamides in sediments were 2.7×10³ ng/g and 2.1×10² ng/g respectively detected in May. All detected ARGs were found generally with high abundance. The tetA, tetB and tetE genes were dominant (4.4×10^-2 to 9.8×10^-1 copies of tet genes/copies of 16S rRNA genes) in total communities, and the average abundance of sul genes was expressed above 10^-1 in the water samples in May and October. Redundance analysis (RDA) and principle component analysis (PCA) indicated that the antibiotic residue was the most important contributor to the level of tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance genes, and some hydrogeological conditions (e.g. flow rate, intersection settlement) influenced the distribution of resistance genes. Results from this study could help understand the proliferation and propagation of antibiotic resistance on a river catchment scale and mitigate the potential risks to public health.

Cephalosporin antibiotics in the aquatic environment: A critical review of occurrence, fate, ecotoxicity and removal technologies

Due to their widespread occurrence in the aquatic environment, human and veterinary cephalosporin antibiotics have been studied as water pollutants. In order to characterize environmental risks of this compound class, this review evaluates relevant data about physicochemical properties, occurrence, ecotoxicity and degradation of cephalosporins. Although application of cephalosporins is rather low compared to other antibiotics and their environmental life-time is believed to be short (i.e. days), the available data is insufficient to draw conclusions on their environmental relevance. Few studies concerning the fate of cephalosporins in soil are available, while hydrolysis and photo-degradation are suggested as the main attenuation processes in the aquatic environment. Cephalosporins have been detected in different aqueous matrices in concentrations ranging from 0.30 ng L^-1 to 0.03 mg L^-1, with sewage and wastewater being the main matrices with positive findings. For wastewater treatment purposes, several technologies have been tested for the abatement of cephalosporins, including photolysis and adsorption. In most cases, the technology employed led to complete or significant removal (>95%) of parental drugs but few authors reported on cephalosporins' metabolites and transformation products. Furthermore, the present ecotoxicological data are insufficient for comprehensive ecological risk quotient calculations. Considering the total of 53 cephalosporins, effective values (EC, LC, NOAEC, NOAEL, etc.) are only available for around 30% of parental drugs and are very scarce for cyanobacteria, which is considered to be the most sensitive group of organisms to antibiotics. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that cephalosporins' transformation products can be more toxic and more persistent than the parental drugs. Few investigations considering this possibility are available. Consequently, more effort on ecotoxicological data generation and verification of biological inactivation of cephalosporins-related products is needed. Likewise, the lack of natural depletion rates and knowledge gaps on mixture effects for cephalosporins' degradation and toxicity have to be overcome.

Factors influencing the removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes by the electrokinetic treatment

The performance of the electrokinetic remediation process on the removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was evaluated with different influencing factors. With chlortetracycline (CTC), oxytetracycline (OTC), and tetracycline (TC) as template chemicals, the removal of both ARB and ARGs was enhanced with the increase of voltage gradient (0.4-1.2 V cm^-1) and prolonged reaction time (3-14 d). The greatest removal (26.01-31.48% for ARB, 37.93-83.10% for ARGs) was obtained applying a voltage of 1.2 V cm^-1, leading to the highest electrical consumption. The effect of polarity reversal intervals on the inactivation ratio of ARB followed the order of 0 h (66.06-80.00%) > 12 h (17.07-24.75%) > 24 h (10.44-13.93%). Lower pH, higher current density, and more evenly-distributed voltage drop was observed with a polarity reversal interval of 12 h compared with that of 24 h, leading to more efficient electrochemical reactions in soil. Compared with sul genes, tet genes were more vulnerable to be attacked in an electric field. It was mainly attributed to the lower abundance of tet genes (except tetM) and the varied effects of electrokinetic remediation process on different ARGs. Moreover, a relatively less removal ratio of tetC and tetG was obtained mainly due to the mechanism of the efflux pump upregulation. Both tet and sul genes were positively correlated with TC-resistant bacteria. The efflux pump genes like tetG and the cellular protection genes like tetM showed different correlations with ARB. This study enhances the current understanding on the removal strategies of ARB and ARGs, and it provides important parameters for their destruction by the electrokinetic treatment.

Antimicrobial activity of trans-cinnamic acid and commonly used antibiotics against important fish pathogens and nonpathogenic isolates

AIMS

Antibiotics and several other chemicals have been used to prevent fish diseases. However, this situation results in economic loss for the companies in the aquaculture industry and most importantly it pollutes the environment. Cinnamic acid is a naturally occurring aromatic acid and is considered to be safe for human consumption. Therefore, in this study, the antibacterial activity of trans-cinnamic acid and commonly used antibiotics, namely chloramphenicol, vancomycin, streptomycin and erythromycin, were tested against 32 bacteria, including fish pathogens, nonpathogenic isolates and collection strains.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Trans-cinnamic acid was applied against the bacteria using the disc diffusion and microdilution method under in vitro conditions. Antibiotics were also tested under similar conditions against all tested bacteria using the disc diffusion method. The results show that among 32 bacterial strains trans-cinnamic acid exhibited potent inhibitory effect on the Gram-negative fish pathogen Aeromonas sobria. In addition, a moderate inhibition of trans-cinnamic acid of fish pathogens Aeromonas salmonicida, Vibrio (Listonella) anguillarum, Vibrio crassostreae and Yersinia ruckeri was also observed for trans-cinnamic acid in our study. On the contrary, the majority of nonpathogenic intestinal isolates were resistant to trans-cinnamic acid.

CONCLUSIONS

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the antimicrobial activity of trans-cinnamic acid on 24 of the studied bacteria isolated from fish. In conclusion, trans-cinnamic acid can be used as an environmentally friendly alternative additive to prevent and control primarily A. sobria, as well as other pathogenic bacteria such as A. salmonicida, V. anguillarum, V. crassostreae and Y. ruckeri.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study indicated that trans-cinnamic acid may present an environmentally friendly alternative therapeutic agent against A. sobria infections in the aquaculture industry.

Paper-based luminescence bioassay method embedding a sequence of enzymatic reactions to detect sulfonamide groups

Sulfonamide residue in foodstuffs and the environment is a serious global concern for their contribution to the occurrence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, especially in developing countries. Here, we describe a novel, simple, and low-cost bioassay for sulfonamides, which has high potential versatility for use in low-resource settings. The bioassay method is based on a purpose-built luminescent assay reaction that detects sulfonamide groups. The luminescent assay reaction comprises dihydropteroate synthase, a target enzyme of sulfonamides, and luminescent pyrophosphate detection reagent, which triggers a sequence of biomolecular reactions that convert sulfonamides to emit luminescence. The novel assay detected at least six different sulfonamides with an estimated limit of detection of <25 ng ml^-1 in a solution-phase assay using a microplate reader. More importantly, the luminescent assay reaction functioned even after spotting and freeze-drying on a wax pattern-printed paper platform. The paper-embedded luminescent assay reaction showed response signals to sulfadiazine within 30 min at a limit of detection similar to that of the solution-phase assay using a microplate reader. The signal could be recorded using a digital camera in the dark and required no other laboratory infrastructure, freeing the assay from the constraints of a well-fitted laboratory.

Occurrence and distribution of antibiotics in surface water impacted by crab culturing: a case study of Lake Guchenghu, China

The objective of this study was to evaluate the occurrence, distribution, potential sources, and ecological risk of antibiotics in aqueous phase of Lake Guchenghu, China. Target antibiotics in surface water of Lake Guchenghu, adjacent streams, and crab ponds were detected seasonally. The results showed that erythromycin-H₂O (1.60-2450 ng/L), sulfadiazine (ND-654 ng/L), and florfenicol (ND-919 ng/L) were the predominant antibiotics in Lake Guchenghu. The concentrations of antibiotics in Lake Guchenghu Basin showed obvious seasonal variation, with the highest concentration in summer. In general, the concentrations of antibiotics in crab ponds and streams were higher than those in the lake and spatial distributions of antibiotics were affected by pollution sources. The types and origins of antibiotics indicated that wastewater from ponds was the main source of antibiotics in the lake. Risk assessment suggested that as individual compound, erythromycin-H₂O and clarithromycin posed a high risk to algae while other compounds might pose low or no risk. The mixture of antibiotics may pose a high risk to aquatic organisms in Lake Guchenghu. Overall, our study revealed the occurrence and spatiotemporal variation of antibiotics in Lake Guchenghu, which was related with crab culturing.

Facile and Cost-Efficient Synthesis of Quasi-0D/2D ZnO/MoS2 Nanocomposites for Highly Enhanced Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Pollutants and Antibiotics

Nanoscale transition-metal dichalcogenide materials showed promising potential for visible-light responsive photocatalysis. Here, we report our investigations on the synthesis of heterodimensional nanostructures of two-dimensional (2D) ultrathin MoS₂ nanosheets interspersed with ZnO nanoparticles by using a facile two-step method consisting of sonication-aided exfoliation technique followed by a wet chemical process. The photocatalytic activity of the nanocomposites was examined by studying the degradation of different organic dye pollutants and tetracycline, a common antibiotic, under visible-light irradiation. It is found that within 30 min more than 90 % of the model organic dye was photodegraded by the optimized quasi-0D/2D hybrid nanomaterial. The reaction rate of pollutant degradation is about five and eight times higher than those of the pristine MoS₂ naonosheets and P25 photocatalysts, respectively. The outstanding photocatalytic activity of the heterodimensional hybrids can be attributed to a few beneficial features from the synergetic effects. Most importantly, the intimate junction between ZnO and MoS₂ facilitates the separation of photogenerated carriers, leading to the enhancement of photocatalytic efficiency. A tentative photocatalytic degradation mechanism was proposed and tested. Overall, the present work provides valuable insights for the exploration of cost-effective nanoscale heterodimensional hybrids constructed from atomically thin layered materials.

One step synthesis of Co/Cr-codoped ZnO nanoparticle with superb adsorption properties for various anionic organic pollutants and its regeneration

Adsorption is an effective means to remove organic pollutant. However, it is challenging to prepare the adsorbents with high adsorption capacities and their regeneration. Herein, Co/Cr-codoped ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) with superb adsorption for dyes and antibiotics have been successfully synthesized by a mild solvothermal method. At the optimal Co:Cr:Zn doping moral ratio of 4:6:100, the maximum adsorption capacities of methyl orange (MO) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) on Co/Cr-codoped ZnO NPs is 1057.90 mg g^-1 and 874.46 mg g^-1, respectively. The adsorption process of the sample over MO and TC-HCl both agreed well with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Langmuir isotherm model. Adsorption thermodynamics proved that the adsorption of MO and TC-HCl on Co/Cr-codoped ZnO NPs was a spontaneous and endothermic process. The mechanism shows that the surface of Co/Cr-codoped ZnO NPs have more positive charges, larger specific surface area and more crystal defects due to Co³⁺ and Cr³⁺ substitutes Zn²⁺ in ZnO lattice, improving their adsorption property. In addition, Co/Cr-codoped ZnO NPs have also excellent adsorption capacity for Direct Red, Congo Red, Evans Blue and Methyl Blue. More importantly, the regeneration of adsorbents was studied to achieve the reuse of materials, and avoid secondary pollution. Co/Cr-codoped ZnO NPs will be a promising choice for wastewater treatment owing to its excellent adsorption capacity and relatively low cost.

Intimate contacted two-dimensional/zero-dimensional composite of bismuth titanate nanosheets supported ultrafine bismuth oxychloride nanoparticles for enhanced antibiotic residue degradation

Constructing a two-dimensional/zero-dimensional (2D/0D) composite with matched crystal structure, suitable energy band structure as well as intimate contact interface is an effective way to improve carriers separation for achieving highly photocatalytic performance. In this work, a novel bismuth titanate/bismuth oxychloride (Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂/BiOCl) composite consisting of 2D Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ nanosheets and 0D BiOCl nanoparticles was constructed for the first time. Germinating ultrafine BiOCl nanoparticles on Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ nanosheets can provide abundant contact interface and shorten migration distance of photoinduced carriers via two-step synthesis contained molten salt process and facile chemical transformation process. The obtained Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂/BiOCl 2D/0D composites exhibited enhanced photocatalytic performance for antibiotic tetracycline hydrochloride degradation. The rate constant of optimal Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂/BiOCl composite was about 4.4 times higher than that of bare Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ although Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂/BiOCl composite appeared lesser photoabsorption. The enhanced photocatalytic performance can be mainly ascribed to matched crystal structure, suitable energy band structure and intimate contact interface between Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ nanosheets and ultrafine BiOCl nanoparticles as well as unique 2D/0D composite structure. Besides, a probable degradation mechanism on the basis of active species trapping experiments, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, photocurrent responses and energy band structures was proposed. This work may be stretched to other 2D/0D composite photocatalysts construction, which is inspiring for antibiotic residue treatment.

Occurrence and fate of most prescribed antibiotics in different water environments of Tehran, Iran

The presence of most prescribed antibiotic compounds from four therapeutic classes (β-lactam, cephalosporins, macrolides, fluoroquinolones) were studied at two full-scale WWTPs, two rivers, thirteen groundwater resources, and five water treatment plants in Tehran. Analytical methodology was based on high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry after solid-phase extraction. Samples were collected at 33 sample locations on three sampling periods over four months from June to August 2016. None of the target antibiotics were detected in groundwater resources and water treatment plants, while seven out of nine target antibiotics were analyzed in two studied river waters as well as the influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants at concentrations ranging from <LOQ to 926.32ng/L. Ciprofloxacin predominated in all analyzed influent (552.6-796.2ng/L) and effluent (127-248.7ng/L) samples of WWTP A, whereas cephalosporins including cephalexin (523.3-977.7ng/L) and cefixime (278.65 to 422.1ng/L) were the most abundant detected antibiotics in the influent and effluent of WWTP B. Aqueous phase removal efficiencies were assessed and ranged from 339.83% to 100% for the seven detected antibiotics. "Negative removals" were observed for erythromycin, azithromycin, and cefixime due to the deconjugation of conjugated metabolites via biological transformation in the studied WWTPs. From a statistical point of view, significant differences (p<0.05) were observed in the concentrations of cefixime, cephalexin, azithromycin, and erythromycin in the effluent of both studied WWTPs. Ciprofloxacin and cephalexin were the most abundant detected antibiotics in the two studied river waters. Statistical results revealed that there were significant differences in the concentrations of ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, and erythromycin (p<0.05) in Firozabad ditch (receiving WWTP effluent) and Kan River (non-receiving WWTP effluent) which demonstrated that WWTPs discharges could be an important source of antibiotics being released in water bodies.

Antibiotics in the aquatic environment of Vietnam: Sources, concentrations, risk and control strategy

The presence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment is a serious concern because it may lead to the emergence of antibiotic resistance, thus lowering the therapeutic effect of antibiotics. In Vietnam, the problem is aggravated by the irrational use of antibiotics in different sectors of agriculture and human health service. Moreover, the residues of antibiotics in the aquatic environment can be spread widely due to the lack of proper wastewater treatment systems. In this paper, we aim to comprehensively review all relevant sources that discharge antibiotics to the aquatic environment in Vietnam. Apart from the common source of antibiotics from aquaculture, other activities that release considerable amounts of antibiotics into water environment are also included. Environmental concentrations of antibiotics related to those sources are studied to demonstrate their contributions to the presence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment in Vietnam. As antibiotic-contained water may be used as water supply for irrigation and even human consumption in rural areas, the essence of wastewater treatment is highlighted. Finally, we also discuss the new National Action plan from the Ministry of Health for controlling the issue of antibiotic resistance in Vietnam.

Antibiotics in Crab Ponds of Lake Guchenghu Basin, China: Occurrence, Temporal Variations, and Ecological Risks

Antibiotics are widely used in aquaculture, however, this often results in undesirable ecological effects. To evaluate the occurrence, temporal variations, and ecological risk of antibiotics in five crab ponds of Lake Guchenghu Basin, China, 44 antibiotics from nine classes were analyzed by rapid resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (RRLC-MS/MS). Twelve antibiotics belonging to six classes were detected in the aqueous phase of five crab ponds, among which sulfonamides and macrolides were the predominant classes, and six compounds (sulfamonomethoxine, sulfadiazine, trimethoprim, erythromycin-H₂O, monensin, and florfenicol) were frequently detected at high concentrations. In general, the antibiotic levels varied between different crab ponds, with the average concentrations ranging from 122 to 1440 ng/L. The antibiotic concentrations in crab ponds exhibited obvious seasonal variations, with the highest concentration and detection frequency detected in summer. Multivariate analysis showed that antibiotic concentrations were significantly correlated with environmental variables, such as total organic carbon, phosphate, ammonia nitrogen, and pH. Sulfadiazine, clarithromycin, erythromycin-H₂O, and ciprofloxacin posed a high risk to algae, while the mixture of antibiotics could pose a high risk to aquatic organisms in the crab ponds. Overall, the usage of antibiotics in farming ponds should be comprehensively investigated and controlled to preserve a healthy aquaculture ecosystem.

[Antibiotic Residue in Environmental Water in Vietnam]

　The increasing prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has caused intractable infections worldwide. Nearly 50% of the healthy population of Southeast Asia carries extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli. The overuse of antimicrobial agents in the agriculture, aquaculture, and medical care sectors causes environmental pollution, facilitating the spread of AMR. However, there is a lack of data pertaining to antimicrobial residues in environmental water in such regions. We investigated a total of 49 chemicals, including β-lactams, sulfonamides, quinolones, and tetracyclines. Water samples were collected from rivers in city centers, and ponds in livestock and aquaculture farms, in Ha Noi, Thai Binh, and Can Tho in Vietnam. We detected antimicrobial agents at 87 of 111 sampling sites (78.4%). Among the target analytes, sulfamethoxazole, sulfamethazine, trimethoprim, cephalexin, and ofloxacin were detected frequently. The residual levels of each antimicrobial agent ranged from 0.1 to 10000 ng/L. Moreover, we detected multi-drug resistant E. coli in fishes sampled from these rivers, suggesting unwanted effects of antimicrobial residues in the environment.

Enhancement of immune response and resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus in kuruma shrimp (Marsupenaeus japonicus) by dietary supplementation of β-1,4-mannobiose

Supplementation of prebiotic carbohydrates can act as a potent immunomodulator and have the efficacy to induce immune-related genes which are involved in host defense. Pure β-1,4-mannobiose (MNB) showed activation of prophenoloxidase system of shrimp hemocytes in vitro. The resistance of kuruma shrimp Marsupenaeus japonicus against Vibrio parahaemolyticus was examined after the shrimp were fed with 0 (control), 0.02, 0.2, and 2% MNB supplemented diets. The results showed significantly higher survival rates in MNB supplemented shrimp than those of the control one from 2 to 12 days post challenge. In another experiment, the hemocyte count, ROS production, phagocytic, phenoloxidase and bactericidal activities, and expression of immune-related genes were investigated in the control and MNB supplemented groups at day 1, 4, 6, 8 and 11 of the feeding. These immune parameters were significantly enhanced in MNB supplemented groups. Furthermore, the gene expression analysis showed that transcripts of lysozyme, crustin, penaeidin and TNF were significantly up-regulated in hemolymph, lymphoid organs and intestines of MNB treated shrimp. Overall, the results provided evidence that MNB supplementation could improve the immune response and increase shrimp resistance against V. parahaemolyticus infection.

A Comparison of Genotypic and Phenotypic Methods for Analyzing the Susceptibility to Sulfamethoxazole and Trimethoprim in Edwardsiella piscicida

In a study of 39 isolates of Edwardsiella piscicida made from Korean aquaculture sites, sul genes were detected in 16 isolates and dfr genes in 19. Ten isolates were shown to contain both sul and dfr genes. MIC and disc diffusion zones assays were performed to measure the phenotypic susceptibilities of the 39 isolates. Normalized resistance interpretation was applied to these data to categorize isolates as either fully susceptible or as manifesting reduced susceptibility. The standard CLSI protocols specify the use of a mixture of sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (20:1) in both MIC and disc diffusion tests. Using the CLSI MIC protocol, 100% of the isolates containing dfr genes, but only 75% of the isolates containing sul genes, were categorized as manifesting reduced susceptibility. Using the CLSI disc diffusion protocol, only 58% of the isolates containing dfr genes and 69% of those containing sul genes were categorized as manifesting reduced susceptibility. When the single agent trimethoprim was substituted for the combined mixture in both the MIC and disc diffusion protocols, 100% of the dfr-positive isolates were categorized as NWT. When the single-agent sulfamethoxazole was substituted, the analysis of the MIC characterized 100% and the disc zone data 94% of the sul-positive isolates as manifesting reduced susceptibility. It is argued that the use of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole as single agents in phenotypic susceptibility tests would provide more meaningful data than the currently recommended use of these two agents combined.

Removal of five fluoroquinolone antibiotics during broiler manure composting

Composting is a cost-effective approach for the removal of antibiotics from the environment; however, the consequence of this approach on fluoroquinolone antibiotics is limited. The fate of five representative fluoroquinolone antibiotics, namely ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, lomefloxacin, norfloxacin, and sarafloxacin, was investigated in a pilot-scale composting of broiler manure over 42 days. The effect of antibiotic concentrations (at a dose of 15, 30, or 60 mg/kg for each and a control without antibiotic addition) on the composting process was also assessed. The 42-day composting showed 45.3-75.4% of antibiotic removal with species-specific patterns. However, the observed variations in such removal among both antibiotics concentrations and composting times were not significant in most cases, possibly indicating a slight side-effect of the tested antibiotic concentrations on the composting process. To the best of our knowledge, this study is among few studies with a focus on the persistence of fluoroquinolone antibiotics during a pilot-scale composting, which warrants further study in regards to the mechanism underlying the removal of these compounds during composting.

Investigation of the interaction between the fate of antibiotics in aquafarms and their level in the environment

China is the largest freshwater aquaculture producer and antibiotics consumer in the world, and rivers in China are generally polluted by antibiotics. However, there is little information available regarding the linkage of antibiotics in aquaculture and the aquatic environment. Therefore, this study investigated the fate of antibiotics in several open water culture-based freshwater aquafarms, including integrated livestock/fish systems and non-integrated fish ponds, and explored the contamination profiles of antibiotics in the Beijiang River. Then the study tried to clarify the two-way interaction of antibiotics in aquaculture and the environment. The results showed that, when compared with the effluent from livestock farms and wastewater treatment plants, the contribution of antibiotics from non-integrated fish pond water without livestock sewage input was limited, while that of effluent from the integrated livestock/fish system was quite high. The total concentrations of antibiotics detected in the aquafarm source water were similar to those in the upper river water and generally higher than those in the corresponding fish pond water, implying that the occurrence of antibiotics in intensive aquafarms can mainly be attributed to the antibiotic residues in nearby river water. Overall, the results underscore the need to develop a sewage infrastructure for the treatment of effluent from integrated livestock/fish aquafarms, and suggest that open water culture-based fish farms should be located far from seriously contaminated sections of rivers.

Consumption of antibacterial molecules in broiler production in Morocco

Monitoring the use of antibacterial agents in food-producing animals is crucial in order to reduce antimicrobial resistance, selection and dissemination of resistant bacterial strains, and drug residues in the animal food products. The broiler production sector is considered a great consumer of antibacterials and incriminated in the rise of antimicrobial resistance level in zoonotic bacterial pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter. Following recommendations from the OIE and WHO, a survey was conducted about the use and consumption of several antibacterial agents in Moroccan broiler flocks. More than 5 million broilers were randomly surveyed at the prescriber level, that is, via the veterinary clinics involved in their health management. The results showed that 93% of the flocks received at least one antibacterial treatment of minimum 3 days duration. Enrofloxacin, colistin and trimethoprim/sulphonamides were the most used antibacterials followed by oxytetracycline, florfenicol and amoxicillin. Oxytetracycline, enrofloxacin and colistin were overdosed in most of the administration, while amoxicillin and the combination of trimethoprim/sulphonamides were under-dosed. The total amount of antibacterial consumed in the survey was 63.48 mg/kg and the Animal Level of Exposure to Antimicrobials (ALEA) was 94.45%. The reasons for this frequent use were related mainly to the poor quality of broiler production management. Chicks and animal feed provided to producers were of variable quality. Management of rearing stock density was often poor and biosecurity inadequate, and broilers were challenged by a high prevalence of infectious diseases.

Complex migration of antibiotic resistance in natural aquatic environments

Antibiotic resistance is a worsening global concern, and the environmental behaviors and migration patterns of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) have attracted considerable interest. Understanding the long-range transport of ARG pollution is crucial. In this study, we characterized the dynamics of ARG changes after their release into aquatic environments and demonstrated the importance of traditional chemical contaminants in the transmission mechanisms of ARGs. We hypothesized that the main route of ARG proliferation switches from active transmission to passive transmission. This antibiotic-dominated switch is motivated and affected by non-corresponding contaminants. The effect of anthropogenic activities gradually weakens from inland aquatic environments to ocean environments; however, the effect of changes in environmental conditions is enhanced along this gradient. The insights discussed in this study will help to improve the understanding of the distribution and migration of ARG pollution in various aquatic environments, and provide a modern perspective to reveal the effect of corresponding contaminants and non-corresponding contaminants in the process of antibiotic resistance proliferation.

A current perspective on antimicrobial resistance in Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia, a vibrant region that has recently undergone unprecedented economic development, is regarded as a global hotspot for the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Understanding AMR in Southeast Asia is crucial for assessing how to control AMR on an international scale. Here we (i) describe the current AMR situation in Southeast Asia, (ii) explore the mechanisms that make Southeast Asia a focal region for the emergence of AMR, and (iii) propose ways in which Southeast Asia could contribute to a global solution.

Gamma irradiation-induced decomposition of sulfamethoxazole in aqueous solution: the influence of additives, biological inhibitory, and degradation mechanisms

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) was decomposed by using gamma irradiation in the presence of different additives such as NO₃^-, NO₂^-, Cr(VI), 2-propanol, and tert-butanol. The results demonstrated that NO₃^-, NO₂^-, 2-propanol, and tert-butanol inhibited SMX radiolytic removal. However, there existed a synergetic effect for radiolytic removal of the mixture containing SMX and Cr(VI). At an absorbed dose of 150 Gy, the removal percentages of SMX and Cr(VI) in the mixture were 73.5 and 84.6%, respectively, which was higher than the removal percentages of 70.6 and 4.1% for the single component of SMX and Cr(VI). This provides us an insight into treating the combined pollution in micro-polluted water. The SMX radiolytic removal followed a pseudo first-order reaction kinetic model, and the rate constant ratios of ·OH, e_aq^-, and H· towards SMX radiolysis were 10.4:1:2.9. In addition, 24-h bio-inhibitory to the macroalgae of SMX solution during gamma irradiation reached the maximum of 0.85 at an adsorbed dose of 100 Gy, then gradually decreased with the increasing adsorbed dose. Based on LC-MS analysis and quantum chemical calculation, the degradation intermediates were determined and concluded that SMX radiolytic removal was mainly via ·OH radical attack and direct decomposition of SMX molecule by gamma ray.

Influence of pH and ozone dose on sulfaquinoxaline ozonation

Sulfaquinoxaline (SQX) is an antimicrobial of the sulfonamides class. Usually employed in veterinary medicine, this contaminant of emerging concern has been found in superficial and groundwater and its consequences for the environment and human health are not completely known. In this study, SQX (C₀ = 500 μg L^-1, 1 L) degradation by an ozonation process at pH 3, 7, and 11 was evaluated. Ozonation was effective in degrading SQX: efficiency exceeding 99% was obtained applying an ozone dose of 2.8 mg L^-1 at pH 3. Assays were performed according to a 2² design of experiments (DOE) with star points and three central points for statistical validity. Minimum and maximum levels were set at 3 and 11 for pH, and 0 and 11.5 mg L^-1 for applied ozone dose. There was no significant interaction between these variables, and the pH value played the most important role in terms of contaminant degradation. In relation to toxicity, samples ozonated at pH 3 did not inhibit the luminescence of the bacteria, even though different intermediates were formed and identified by mass spectra. At pH 7, inhibition of luminescence remained almost constant (at around 30%) according to ozonation time or ozone dose. However, the hydroxyl radical, the major oxidant at pH 11, was responsible for the formation of toxic intermediates.

The study on interactions between levofloxacin and model proteins by using multi-spectroscopic and molecular docking methods

The interactions of levofloxacin (LEV) with lysozyme (LYZ), trypsin and bovine hemoglobin (BHb) were investigated, respectively, by using multi-spectral techniques and molecular docking in vitro. Fluorescence studies showed that LEV quenched LYZ/trypsin fluorescence in a combined quenching ways and BHb fluorescence in a static quenching with binding constants of .14, .51 and .20 × 10⁵ L mol^-1 at 298 K, respectively. The thermodynamic parameters demonstrated that hydrophobic forces, hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals forces played the major role in the binding process. The binding distances between LEV and the inner tryptophan residues of LYZ, trypsin, and BHb were calculated to be 4.04, 3.38, and 4.52 nm, respectively. Furthermore, the results of circular dichroism spectra (CD), UV-vis, and three-dimensional fluorescence spectra indicated that the secondary structures of LYZ, trypsin, and BHb were partially changed by LEV with the α-helix percentage of LYZ-LEV system increased while that of BHb-LEV system was decreased, the β-sheet percentage of trypsin-LEV system increased from 41.3 to 42.9%. UV-vis spectral results showed that the binding interactions could cause conformational and some micro-environmental changes of LYZ, trypsin, and BHb. The results of molecular docking revealed that in LYZ and trypsin systems, LEV bound to the active sites residues GLU 35 and ASP 52 of LYZ and trypsin at the active site SER 195, and in BHb system, LEV was located in the central cavity, which was consistent with the results of synchronous fluorescence experiment. Besides, LEV made the activity of LYZ decrease while the activity of trypsin increased.

The Rising Tide of Antimicrobial Resistance in Aquaculture: Sources, Sinks and Solutions

As the human population increases there is an increasing reliance on aquaculture to supply a safe, reliable, and economic supply of food. Although food production is essential for a healthy population, an increasing threat to global human health is antimicrobial resistance. Extensive antibiotic resistant strains are now being detected; the spread of these strains could greatly reduce medical treatment options available and increase deaths from previously curable infections. Antibiotic resistance is widespread due in part to clinical overuse and misuse; however, the natural processes of horizontal gene transfer and mutation events that allow genetic exchange within microbial populations have been ongoing since ancient times. By their nature, aquaculture systems contain high numbers of diverse bacteria, which exist in combination with the current and past use of antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, and other treatment regimens-singularly or in combination. These systems have been designated as "genetic hotspots" for gene transfer. As our reliance on aquaculture grows, it is essential that we identify the sources and sinks of antimicrobial resistance, and monitor and analyse the transfer of antimicrobial resistance between the microbial community, the environment, and the farmed product, in order to better understand the implications to human and environmental health.

Residues of 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpyrazine, a degradation product of some β-lactam antibiotics, in environmental water in Vietnam

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become a serious problem worldwide, caused in part by the excessive use and discharge of antibiotics into the environment. Ampicillin (ABPC) is a widely used antibiotic. However, this chemical rapidly decomposes in water containing divalent cations like Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, thus, detection of ABPC in environmental water is difficult. This study was carried out to evaluate the presence of 2-hydroxy-3-phenylpyrazine (HPP), one of the degradation products of ABPC and β-lactam antibiotics with an ABPC substructure, in environmental water. An analytical method for HPP monitoring in environmental water was developed using liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The analyte was extracted from water samples and enriched using a solid-phase extraction cartridge. The quantification limit was 1 ng L^-1. The HPP recovery rates from spiked water samples of 25 and 125 ng L^-1 were 84.1 and 86.1%, respectively. The method was then used to determine HPP residue levels in 98 environmental water samples from rivers, household ponds, and aquacultural ponds in Vietnam. HPP residues were detected in 60 samples. The HPP detection rates in rivers and household ponds were 42 and 79%, respectively. HPP was not detected in aquacultural ponds. HPP residue concentrations in the samples ranged from 1.3 to 413.3 ng L^-1. The residue levels in rivers flowing through city centres were higher than levels in other sampling locations. The findings of this study suggest that HPP is a promising marker for assessing the discharge of ABPC and β-lactam antibiotics with an ABPC substructure into the environment around sampling sites.

Water metagenomic analysis reveals low bacterial diversity and the presence of antimicrobial residues and resistance genes in a river containing wastewater from backyard aquacultures in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

The environmental pathways for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance have recently received increased attention. Aquatic environments act as reservoirs or sources of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, antimicrobial residues, and antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Therefore, it is imperative to identify the role of polluted water in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial residues, ARGs, and microbiota in the freshwater systems of the Mekong Delta. We selected 12 freshwater sites from aquacultures and rivers in Can Tho, Vietnam and analyzed them for 45 antimicrobial residues and 8 ARGs by LC/MS/MS and real-time PCR, respectively. A 16S rDNA-based metagenomic analysis was conducted to characterize the water microbiota. Residues of sulfamethoxazole (10/12) and sulfadimidine (7/12) were widely detected, together with the sulfa-resistance genes sul1 (11/12) and sul2 (9/12). Additionally, sulfamethoxazole residues and the β-lactamase-resistance gene bla_CTX-M-1 were detected in eight freshwater systems (8/12), suggesting that these freshwater systems may have been polluted by human activity. The metagenomic analysis showed that all the tested freshwater systems contained the phyla Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Bacteroidetes, representing 64% of the total microbiota. Moreover, the Cai Rang River site (Ri-E), which is located at the merge point of wastewaters from backyard-based aquacultures, contained the genera Polynucleobacter, Variovorax, and Limnohabitans, representing more than 78.4% of the total microbiota. Bacterial diversity analysis showed that the Ri-E exhibited the lowest diversity compared with other regions. Principal coordinate analysis showed that the differences among water microbiotas in backyard-based aquacultures could be explained by the farmers' aquaculture techniques. In conclusion, this study demonstrated a collapse of bacterial diversity at the merge point of wastewaters from backyard-based aquacultures in the Mekong Delta.

Persistence and risk of antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes in major mariculture sites in Southeast China

Antibiotics are widely used in mariculture industry, and this study attempts to determine the extent of water and sediment pollution by antibiotic residues in 13 major mariculture sites in China. Through chemical and molecular biology analysis, the results showed that the total concentrations of sulfonamides and tetracyclines were in the range 62.0-373.8ngL^-1 and 0.2-259.1ngL^-1 respectively in water samples, and in the range 0.19-1.59ngg^-1 dry weight and 3.45-74.84ngg^-1 dry weight respectively, in sediments samples. The occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was detected in all sites. Compared with the tetracyclines resistance genes, the absolute copy number and relative abundance of the sulfonamides resistance genes were 4.3 times and 2.3 times higher in water and sediment from the mariculture sites, with the dominant resistance genes being sul2. The abundance of sul3 in the water phase was significantly correlated with the concentrations of sulfamerazine, while the abundance of sul2 in the sediment phase was significantly with sulfadiazine concentrations. The abundance of tetM in the sediment phase was significantly correlated with the concentrations of oxytetracycline. The findings demonstrate the persistence of antibiotic residues and ARGs in major mariculture sites in Southeast China.

Antibiotic pollution in the Katari subcatchment of the Titicaca Lake: Major transformation products and occurrence of resistance genes

An increasing number of studies pointed out the ubiquitous presence of medical residues in surface and ground water as well as in soil compartments. Not only antibiotics can be found in the environment but also their transformation products about which little information is generally available. The development of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is particularly worrying as it can lead to sanitary and health problems. Studies about the dissemination of antibiotics and associated resistances in the Bolivian Altiplano are scarce. We provide baseline information on the occurrence of Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and Trimethoprim (TMP) antibiotics as well as on the most common human SMX transformation products (TP) and on the occurrence of sulfonamide resistance genes. The studied water and soil compartments presented high levels of antibiotic pollution. This situation was shown to be mainly linked with uncontrolled discharges of treated and untreated wastewaters, resulting on the presence of antibiotics in the Titicaca Lake. SMX TPs were detected in surface waters and on soil sampled next to the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). SMX resistance genes sulI and sulII were widely detected in the basin hydrological network, even in areas unpolluted with antibiotics. Mechanisms of co-selection of antibiotic- and metal- resistance may be involved in the prevalence of ARG's in pristine areas with no anthropogenic activity and free of antibiotic pollution.

An optimized SPE-LC-MS/MS method for antibiotics residue analysis in ground, surface and treated water samples by response surface methodology- central composite design

BACKGROUND

Antibiotic residues are being constantly identified in environmental waters at low concentration. Growing concern has been expressed over the adverse environmental and human health effects even at low concentration. Hence, it is crucial to develop a multi-residues analytical method for antibiotics to generate a considerable dataset which are necessary in the assessment of aquatic toxicity of environmental waters for aquatic organisms and human health. This work aimed to develop a reliable and sensitive multi-residue method based on high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-linear ion trap tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS-MS). The method was optimized and validated for simultaneous determination of four classes of antibiotics including, β-lactam, macrolide, fluoroquinolone and nitro-imidazole in treated, ground and surface water matrices.

METHODS

In order to optimize the solid phase extraction process, main parameters influencing the extraction process including, pH, the volume of elution solvent and the amount of Na₄EDTA were evaluated. The optimization of extraction process was carried out by response surface methodology using central composite design. Analysis of variance was performed for nine target antibiotics using response surface methodology.

RESULTS

The extraction recoveries were found to be sensitive to the independent variables of pH, the volume of elution solvent and the amount of Na₄EDTA. The extraction process was pH-dependent and pH was a significant model term in the extraction process of all target antibiotics. Method validation was performed in optimum operation conditions in which the recoveries were obtained in the range of 50-117% for seven antibiotics in spiked treated and ground water samples and for six antibiotics in spiked river water samples. Method validation parameters in terms of method detection limit were obtained in the range of 1-10 ng/L in treated water, 0.8-10 ng/L in the ground water and 0.8-25 ng/L in river water, linearity varied from 0.95 to 0.99 and repeatability in term of relative standard deviation values was achieved less than 10% with the exception for metronidazole and ceftriaxone. The developed method was applied to the analysis of target antibiotics in treated, ground and surface water samples.

CONCLUSIONS

Target antibiotics were analyzed in different water matrices including treated, ground and river water. Seven out of nine antibiotics were detected in Kan River and Firozabad Ditch water samples, although none of them were detected in treated water and ground water samples.