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Robins K, O'Donnell G, Neumann A, Schmidt W, Hart A, Graham DW. Antimicrobial resistance in rural rivers: Comparative study of the Coquet (Northumberland) and Eden (Cumbria) River catchments. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 928:172348. [PMID: 38614353 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024]
Abstract
Many studies have characterised resistomes in river microbial communities. However, few have compared resistomes in parallel rural catchments that have few point-source inputs of antimicrobial genes (ARGs) and organisms (i.e., AMR) - catchments where one can contrast more nebulous drivers of AMR in rural rivers. Here, we used quantitative microbial profiling (QMP) to compare resistomes and microbiomes in two rural river catchments in Northern England, the Coquet and Eden in Northumberland and Cumbria, respectively, with different hydrological and geographical conditions. The Eden has higher flow rates, higher annual surface runoff, and longer periods of soil saturation, whereas the Coquet is drier and has lower flowrates. QMP analysis showed the Eden contained significantly more abundant microbes associated with soil sources, animal faeces, and wastewater than the Coquet, which had microbiomes like less polluted rivers (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.01). The Eden also had greater ARG abundances and resistome diversity (Kruskal Wallis, p < 0.05), and higher levels of potentially clinically relevant ARGs. The Eden catchment had greater and flashier runoff and more extensive agricultural land use in its middle reach, which explains higher levels of AMR in the river. Hydrological and geographic factors drive AMR in rural rivers, which must be considered in environmental monitoring programmes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Robins
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Greg O'Donnell
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Anke Neumann
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Wiebke Schmidt
- Chief Scientists Group, Environment Agency, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH, UK
| | - Alwyn Hart
- Chief Scientists Group, Environment Agency, Horizon House, Deanery Road, Bristol BS1 5AH, UK
| | - David W Graham
- School of Engineering, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 7RU, UK.
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Mansour R, El-Dakdouki MH, Mina S. Phylogenetic group distribution and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli isolates in aquatic environments of a highly populated area. AIMS Microbiol 2024; 10:340-362. [PMID: 38919712 PMCID: PMC11194619 DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2024018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae including Escherichia coli (E. coli), are recognized as a global public health threat due to their multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes and their rapid dissemination in aquatic environments. Nevertheless, studies investigating the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profile of ESBL-producing E. coli in Lebanese surface water are limited. Objective This study aimed to assess the physicochemical properties and microbial contamination load and to determine the distribution of AMR patterns of ESBL-producing E. coli in surface water samples from different sites in the North Governorate of Lebanon. Methods Water samples were collected from 25 major sites in North Lebanon. These samples were analyzed for the presence of total coliforms, E. coli, and fecal enterococci. Phenotypic and genetic characterizations were then performed for E. coli isolates to determine their resistance patterns and phylogenetic groups. Results Fifty-six samples out of 100 samples were positive for ESBL-producing E. coli, mostly harboring blaCTX-M (40/56, 71%) including blaCTX-M-15 (33/40, 82%), blaTEM gene (36/56, 64%), blaSHV (20/56, 36%), and blaOXA (16/56, 29%) including blaOXA-48 gene (11/16, 69%). Most ESBL-producing E. coli isolates belonged to the extra-intestinal pathogenic phylogroup B2 (40/56, 71.4%) while 10/56 (17.9%) belonged to the commensal phylogroup A. Conclusion Our results highlight the need to implement effective water monitoring strategies to control transmission of ESBL-producing E. coli in surface water and thus reduce the burden on human and animal health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosette Mansour
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020, Riad El Solh 11072809, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Mohammad H. El-Dakdouki
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020, Riad El Solh 11072809, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Sara Mina
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, P.O. Box 11-5020, Riad El Solh 11072809, Beirut, Lebanon
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Leopold M, Kabicher A, Pap IJ, Ströbele B, Zarfel G, Farnleitner AH, Kirschner AKT. A comparative study on antibiotic resistant Escherichia coli isolates from Austrian patients and wastewater-influenced Danube River water and biofilms. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 258:114361. [PMID: 38552533 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2024.114361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major threat to human health worldwide. AMR can be introduced into natural aquatic ecosystems, for example, from clinical facilities via wastewater emissions. Understanding AMR patterns in environmental populations of bacterial pathogens is important to elucidate propagation routes and develop mitigation strategies. In this study, AMR patterns of Escherichia coli isolates from urinary tract infections and colonised urinary catheters of inpatients and outpatients were compared to isolates from the Danube River within the same catchment in Austria to potentially link environmental with clinical resistance patterns. Susceptibility to 20 antibiotics was tested for 697 patient, 489 water and 440 biofilm isolates. The resistance ratios in patient isolates were significantly higher than in the environmental isolates and higher resistance ratios were found in biofilm in comparison to water isolates. The role of the biofilm as potential sink of resistances was reflected by two extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing isolates in the biofilm while none were found in water, and by higher amoxicillin/clavulanic acid resistance ratios in biofilm compared to patient isolates. Although, resistances to last-line antibiotics such as carbapenems and tigecycline were found in the patient and in the environmental isolates, they still occurred at low frequency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Leopold
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria; Institute for Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Angelika Kabicher
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria; Institute for Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ildiko-Julia Pap
- Clinical Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University Clinic St. Pölten, Austria
| | - Barbara Ströbele
- Clinical Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University Clinic St. Pölten, Austria
| | - Gernot Zarfel
- Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University Graz, Austria
| | - Andreas H Farnleitner
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria; Institute for Chemical, Environmental and Bioscience Engineering, Research Group Microbiology and Molecular Diagnostics, Technische Universität Wien, Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander K T Kirschner
- Division Water Quality and Health, Department Pharmacology, Physiology and Microbiology, Karl Landsteiner University of Health Sciences, Krems, Austria; Institute for Hygiene and Applied Immunology - Water Microbiology, Medical University Vienna, Austria.
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Silva I, Tacão M, Henriques I. Hidden threats in the plastisphere: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales colonizing microplastics in river water. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171268. [PMID: 38423305 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Carbapenem resistance poses a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as potential contributors to antibiotic resistance spread in the environment. However, the link between MPs and carbapenem resistance remains unexplored. We investigated the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant bacteria colonizing MPs placed in a river. Three replicates of a mixture of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and of PET alone were placed both upstream and downstream a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) discharge. Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) were further characterized by phenotypic tests and whole-genome sequencing. The abundance of carbapenem-resistant bacteria on MPs increased significantly downstream the WWTP. Their prevalence was higher in the MPs mixture compared to PET alone. CRE strains colonizing MPs included Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 3), Klebsiella quasipneumoniae (n = 3), Raoultella ornithinolytica (n = 2), Enterobacter kobei (n = 1) and Citrobacter freundii (n = 1), most (n = 8) recovered after the WWTP discharge. All strains exhibited at least one of the tested virulence traits (biofilm formation at 37 °C, haemolytic activity and siderophore production), were multi-drug resistant and carried carbapenemase-encoding genes [blaKPC-3 (n = 5), blaGES-5 (n = 2) or blaKPC-3 + blaGES-5 (n = 3)]. Uncommon phenotypes of resistance to imipenem/relebactam (n = 3) and ceftazidime/avibactam (n = 2) were observed. Two blaKPC-3-positive K. pneumoniae successfully transfer this gene trough conjugation. Genome analysis predicted all strains as human pathogens. The blaKPC-3 was associated with the Tn4401d transposon on a pBK30683-like plasmid in most of the isolates (n = 7). The blaGES-5 was mostly linked to class 3 integrons. A K. pneumoniae strain belonging to the outbreak-causing high-risk clone ST15 carried both blaKPC-3 and blaCTX-M-15. Two K. quasipneumoniae isolates carried the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene mcr-9. Our results underscore the role of MPs as vectors for CRE dissemination, particularly following WWTPs discharges. MPs may act as carriers, facilitating the dissemination of carbapenemase-encoding genes and potentially contributing to increased CRE incidence in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Silva
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal; CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Marta Tacão
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Henriques
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal.
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Silva I, Rodrigues ET, Tacão M, Henriques I. Microplastics accumulate priority antibiotic-resistant pathogens: Evidence from the riverine plastisphere. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023:121995. [PMID: 37302790 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) might accumulate and transport antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in aquatic systems. We determined the abundance and diversity of culturable ciprofloxacin- and cefotaxime-resistant bacteria in biofilms covering MPs placed in river water, and characterized priority pathogens from these biofilms. Our results showed that the abundance of ARB colonizing MPs tends to be higher compared to sand particles. Also, higher numbers were cultivated from a mixture of polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), compared to PP and PET alone. Aeromonas and Pseudomonas isolates were the most frequently retrieved from MPs placed before a WWTP discharge while Enterobacteriaceae dominated the culturable plastisphere 200 m after the WWTP discharge. Ciprofloxacin- and/or cefotaxime-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (n = 54 unique isolates) were identified as Escherichia coli (n = 37), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 3), Citrobacter spp. (n = 9), Enterobacter spp. (n = 4) and Shigella sp. (n = 1). All isolates presented at least one of the virulence features tested (i.e. biofilm formation, haemolytic activity and production of siderophores), 70% carried the intI1 gene and 85% exhibited a multi-drug resistance phenotype. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes were detected in ciprofloxacin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae [aacA4-cr (40% of the isolates), qnrS (30%), qnrB (25%), and qnrVC (8%)], along with mutations in gyrA (70%) and parC (72%). Cefotaxime-resistant strains (n = 23) harbored blaCTX-M (70%), blaTEM (61%) and blaSHV (39%). Among CTX-M producers, high-risk clones of E. coli (e.g. ST10 or ST131) and K. pneumoniae (ST17) were identified, most of which carrying blaCTX-M-15. Ten out of 16 CTX-M producers were able to transfer blaCTX-M to a recipient strain. Our results demonstrated the occurrence of multidrug resistant Enterobacteriaceae in the riverine plastisphere, harboring ARGs of clinical concern and exhibiting virulence traits, suggesting a contribution of MPs to the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant priority pathogens. The type of MPs and especially water contamination (e.g. by WWTPs discharges) seem to determine the resistome of the riverine plastisphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Silva
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal; CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies) University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Elsa T Rodrigues
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Marta Tacão
- CESAM (Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies) University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Biology University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Isabel Henriques
- Department of Life Sciences, Centre for Functional Ecology, Associate Laboratory TERRA, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Coimbra, 3000-456, Coimbra, Portugal.
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