Screening for antibiotic resistance genes in manure and sewage

Manure and sewage samples often contain antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These bacteria may be present in both manure and sewage runoff, as well as in locations where large quantities of organic fertilizer are used. The antibiotic-resistant bacteria can then be transferred to crops and produce, and potentially introduced into humans. Numerous studies have utilized the SmartChip Real-Time PCR System to study antibiotic resistance in manure and sewage samples.

In one study, researchers analyzed the intestinal contents of fish from fish farms (Muziasari et al. 2017). By utilizing a 364-primer panel on the SmartChip system, they identified 28 antibiotic resistance genes that were present in the fish feces and then discovered that those same genes were present in the farm sediments. Although the composition of antibiotic-resistant bacteria varied slightly between individual fish, the same 28 genes were present in all sediment samples, indicating an environmental selection process. No antibiotic-resistant genes were detected outside of the intestines, such as on the gills of the fish.

Citations

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