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Distribution of ten antibiotic resistance genes in E. coli isolates from swine manure, lagoon effluent and soil collected from a lagoon waste application field

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Abstract

The prevalence of ten antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) was evaluated in a total of 616 Escherichia coli isolates from swine manure, swine lagoon effluent, and from soils that received lagoon effluent on a commercial swine farm site in Sampson County, North Carolina (USA). Isolates with ARGs coding for streptomycin/spectinomycin (aadA/strA and strB), tetracycline (tetA and tetB), and sulfonamide (sul1) occurred most frequently (60.6–91.3%). The occurrence of E. coli isolates that carried aadA, tetA, tetB, and tetC genes was significantly more frequent in soil samples (34.0–97.2%) than in isolates from lagoon samples (20.9–90.6%). Furthermore, the frequency of isolates that contain genes coding for aadA and tetB was significantly greater in soil samples (82.6–97.2%) when compared to swine manure (16.8–86.1%). Isolates from the lagoon that carried tetA, tetC, and sul3 genes were significantly more prevalent during spring (63.3–96.7%) than during winter (13.1–67.8%). The prevalence of isolates from the lagoon that possessed the strA, strB, and sul1 resistance genes was significantly more frequent during the summer (90.0–100%) than during spring (66.6–80.0%). The data suggest that conditions in the lagoon, soil, and manure may have an impact on the occurrence of E. coli isolates with specific ARGs. Seasonal variables seem to impact the recovery isolates with ARGs; however, ARG distribution may be associated with mobile genetic elements or a reflection of the initial numbers of resistant isolates shed by the animals.

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Abbreviations

ARG:

Antibiotic resistance gene

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Funding support for this research was provided by the University of North Carolina Water Resources Research Institute (project no.70235) and the United States Geological Survey. The authors would like to thank all those who assisted with field work and data interpretation. Special thanks to the farm owners for providing access to their property.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Soil Science, North Carolina State University, Campus Box 7619, Raleigh, NC, 27695–7619, USA

    A. K. Graves, D. W. Israel, B. Robinson, C. W. Cahoon & J. F. Lubbers

  2. Department of Agriculture Research Services, Chitedze research Station, Lilongwe, Malawi

    L. Liwimbi

  3. Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA

    E. van Heugten

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  1. A. K. Graves
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  2. L. Liwimbi
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  3. D. W. Israel
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  4. E. van Heugten
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  5. B. Robinson
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  6. C. W. Cahoon
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  7. J. F. Lubbers
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Correspondence to A. K. Graves.

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Graves, A.K., Liwimbi, L., Israel, D.W. et al. Distribution of ten antibiotic resistance genes in E. coli isolates from swine manure, lagoon effluent and soil collected from a lagoon waste application field. Folia Microbiol 56, 131–137 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12223-011-0019-z

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