Bacteriophages carrying antibiotic resistance genes in fecal waste from cattle, pigs, and poultry

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2011 Oct;55(10):4908-11. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00535-11. Epub 2011 Aug 1.

Abstract

This study evaluates the occurrence of bacteriophages carrying antibiotic resistance genes in animal environments. bla(TEM), bla(CTX-M) (clusters 1 and 9), and mecA were quantified by quantitative PCR in 71 phage DNA samples from pigs, poultry, and cattle fecal wastes. Densities of 3 to 4 log(10) gene copies (GC) of bla(TEM), 2 to 3 log(10) GC of bla(CTX-M), and 1 to 3 log(10) GC of mecA per milliliter or gram of sample were detected, suggesting that bacteriophages can be environmental vectors for the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Bacteriophages / drug effects
  • Bacteriophages / genetics*
  • Bacteriophages / isolation & purification
  • Cattle
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics
  • Feces / virology*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Methicillin Resistance / genetics*
  • Poultry
  • Swine
  • beta-Lactam Resistance / genetics*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents