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The effects of tetracycline concentrations on tetracycline resistance genes and their bacterial hosts in the gut passages of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) feeding on domestic sludge

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Abstract

Vermi-composting is considered to be a feasible method for reducing tetracycline resistance genes (TRGs) in the sludge. Nevertheless, the way different gut passages of earthworm might affect the fates of TRGs and whether this process is affected by tetracycline (TC) concentrations need to be further investigated. In this study, we examined the effects of TC concentrations on changes in TRGs and bacterial communities in gut passages of earthworm were determined by using quantitative PCR and Illumina high-throughput sequencing. TRGs and intI1 were mainly reduced in the hindgut under the TC concentrations ranging from 0 to 25 mg/kg, while they were enriched under higher TC stress exposure. Consequently, we suggest the TC limitation of 25 mg/kg in the domestic sludge (DS) for vermi-composting. Although the predominant genera were TC sensitive under TC stress, many bacterial hosts harboring multiple TRGs (especially those in the hindgut) should be paid further attention to. In the foregut, five genera with abundant tetracycline-resistant bacteria (TRB) were specialized taxa. Among these genera, Unclassified_Solirubrobacterales and Pirellulaceae were probably related to the digestion processes. Other unclassified taxa related to the TRGs were probably derived from the DS. Five genera with abundant TRB were shared in the gut passages, and three specialized genera in the hindgut. These genera could spread TRGs and intI1 to the environment. These results suggest that vermi-composting is a feasible approach for TRG control in the DS containing TC concentration that does not exceed 25 mg/kg. Fates of TRGs and intI1 widely differ in the gut passages, showing inevitable connections with bacterial communities.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (41977053, 41773103, and 41977112), the National Science-technology Support Plan Projects (2015BAD01B03), the “Qing Lan” Project Foundation of Jiangsu Province, and the 333 Talents Project of Jiangsu Province.

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  1. Yue Wang and Zhifeng Yin contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Science & Engineering, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225127, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Yue Wang, Haitao Zhao & Jian Hu

  2. Institute of Resource Utilization of Agricultural Waste, Yancheng Teachers University, Yancheng, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Zhifeng Yin & Yijun Kang

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  1. Yue Wang
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  2. Zhifeng Yin
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Correspondence to Jian Hu or Yijun Kang.

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Wang, Y., Yin, Z., Zhao, H. et al. The effects of tetracycline concentrations on tetracycline resistance genes and their bacterial hosts in the gut passages of earthworms (Eisenia fetida) feeding on domestic sludge. Environ Sci Pollut Res 26, 34412–34420 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-06495-y

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