摘要

废水处理厂（WWTPs）已被确定为抗菌素耐药基因（ARGs）的热点，因此代表了ARG丰度模式释放到环境中之前可以监测的关键点。本研究的目的是衡量最终处理后的污水（FE）在加拿大大草原最近升级的污水处理厂的接收水中ARGs的丰度的影响。测量样品营养物含量（磷和氮物质）作为WWTP功能性能的代表，并且使用定量PCR（qPCR）测量8种ARG（与I类整合子相关的intI1基因和16S rRNA基因）的丰度。基因ermB，sul1，intI1，blaCTX-M，qnrS和tetO在WWTP下游具有较高的丰度，这与FE中丰度最高的基因一致。这些发现与越来越多的证据表明人类活动影响ARG在环境中的丰度是一致的。尽管将ARGs释放到环境中的风险程度仍不清楚，但了解这种威胁的环境方面将有助于制定明智的管理政策，以减少抗生素耐药性的传播并保护公共健康。

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as hotspots for antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) and thus represent a critical point where patterns in ARG abundances can be monitored prior to their release into the environment. The aim of the current study was to measure the impact of the release of the final treated effluent (FE) on the abundance of ARGs in the receiving water of a recently upgraded WWTP in the Canadian prairies. Sample nutrient content (phosphorous and nitrogen species) was measured as a proxy for WWTP functional performance, and quantitative PCR (qPCR) was used to measure the abundance of eight ARGs, the intI1 gene associated with class I integrons, and the 16S rRNA gene. The genes ermB, sul1, intI1, blaCTX-M,qnrS, and tetO all had higher abundances downstream of the WWTP, consistent with the genes with highest abundance in the FE. These findings are consistent with the increasing evidence suggesting that human activity affects the abundances of ARGs in the environment. Although the degree of risk associated with releasing ARGs into the environment is still unclear, understanding the environmental dimension of this threat will help develop informed management policies to reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance and protect public health.

http://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/full/10.1139/facets-2017-0085