Fuentes Maria D, Gutierrez Stephanie, Sahagun Daniella, Gomez Jose, Mendoza Jose, Ellis Cameron C, Bauer Stephanie, Blattner Jonathan, Lee Wen-Yee, Alvarez Maria, Domínguez Delfina C
Interdisciplinary Health Sciences PhD Program, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas.
Biology Department, El Paso Community College, El Paso, Texas.
J Health Pollut. 2019 Aug 22;9(23):190912. doi: 10.5696/2156-9614-9.23.190912. eCollection 2019 Sep.
The worldwide emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria has become a health crisis, as fewer or sometimes no antimicrobial agents are effective against these bacteria. The Rio Grande River is the natural boundary between the United States (US) and Mexico. It spans a border region between Texas, New Mexico and Mexico. Underserved populations on the Mexican side use the river for recreational purposes, while on the US side, the river is used for irrigation and as a source of drinking water.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the concentration of antibiotic residues, to determine the presence of genetic elements conferring antibiotic resistance and to characterize multi-drug resistant bacteria in the waters of the Rio Grande River.
Water samples were obtained from the Rio Grande River. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was extracted from both isolated bacteria and directly from the water. Amplification of selected genetic elements was accomplished by polymerase chain reaction. Identification and isolation of bacteria was performed through MicroScan autoSCAN-4. Fecal contamination was assessed by IDEXX Colilert. Antibiotic residues were determined by liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry.
Antibiotics were found in 92% of both water and sediment samples. Antibiotic concentrations ranged from 0.38 ng/L - 742.73 ng/L and 0.39 ng/l - 66.3 ng/g dry weight in water and sediment samples, respectively. Genetic elements conferring resistance were recovered from all collection sites. Of the isolated bacteria, 91 (64.08%) were resistant to at least two synergistic antibiotic combinations and 11 (14.79%) were found to be resistant to 20 or more individual antibiotics. Fecal contamination was higher during the months of April and July.
The 26 km segment of the Rio Grande River from Sunland Park NM to El Paso, TX and Juarez, Mexico is an area of concern due to poor water quality. The presence of multidrug resistant bacteria, antibiotics and mobile genetic elements may be a health hazard for the surrounding populations of this binational border region. Policies need to be developed for the appropriate management of the environmental natural resources in this border region.
The authors declare no competing financial interests.
全球范围内多重耐药菌的出现已成为一场健康危机，因为针对这些细菌有效的抗菌药物越来越少，有时甚至没有。格兰德河是美国和墨西哥的天然边界。它横跨得克萨斯州、新墨西哥州与墨西哥之间的边境地区。墨西哥一侧医疗服务不足的人群将该河用于娱乐目的，而在美国一侧，该河用于灌溉和作为饮用水源。
本研究的目的是评估抗生素残留的浓度，确定赋予抗生素抗性的遗传元件的存在，并对格兰德河水中的多重耐药菌进行表征。
从格兰德河采集水样。从分离出的细菌以及直接从水中提取脱氧核糖核酸（DNA）。通过聚合酶链反应对选定的遗传元件进行扩增。通过MicroScan autoSCAN - 4进行细菌的鉴定和分离。通过IDEXX Colilert评估粪便污染情况。通过液相色谱和质谱法测定抗生素残留。
在92%的水样和沉积物样本中均发现了抗生素。水样和沉积物样本中抗生素浓度分别为0.38纳克/升 - 742.73纳克/升和0.39纳克/升 - 66.3纳克/克干重。在所有采集地点均检测到赋予抗性的遗传元件。在分离出的细菌中，91株（64.08%）对至少两种协同抗生素组合具有抗性，11株（14.79%）对20种或更多种单一抗生素具有抗性。4月和7月的粪便污染较高。
由于水质较差，从新墨西哥州桑兰帕克到得克萨斯州埃尔帕索以及墨西哥华雷斯的26公里长的格兰德河段是一个令人担忧的区域。多重耐药菌、抗生素和可移动遗传元件的存在可能对这个双边边境地区周围的人群构成健康危害。需要制定相关政策来妥善管理该边境地区的环境自然资源。
作者声明不存在利益冲突。
