The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in water used for irrigation in the Werribee River Basin, Australia, including river water and reclaimed effluent water (reclaimed water). Samples of reclaimed water, collected over a one-year period, were screened for the occurrence of ARGs using PCR detection assays. The presence of ARGs in the reclaimed water samples were contrasted with that of water samples taken from the Werribee River Basin, collected over the same time period, from five points selected for varying levels of urban and agricultural impact. Of the 54 river water samples collected, 2 (4%), 2 (4%), 0 and 0 were positive for methicillin, sulfonamide, gentamicin and vancomycin-resistant genes, respectively, while 6 of 11 reclaimed water samples were positive for methicillin (9%) and sulfonamide (45%). The presence/absence of ARGs did not appear to correlate with other measured water quality parameters. The low detection of ARGs in river water indicates that, regardless of its poor quality, the river has not yet been severely contaminated with ARGs. The greater prevalence of ARGs in reclaimed water indicates that this important agricultural water source will need to be monitored into the future.
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Research Article|
March 09 2010
Occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes in reclaimed water and river water in the Werribee Basin, Australia
Fiona Barker-Reid;
1Department of Natural Resource Management and Geography, The University of Melbourne and the Department of Primary Industries, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
Tel.: +613-8341-2413 Fax: +613-9347-6056; E-mail: [email protected]
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Ellen M. Fox;
Ellen M. Fox
2Department of Primary Industries, 1 Stratford Road, Maffra, Victoria 3860, Australia
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Robert Faggian
Robert Faggian
3Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 4166, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
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J Water Health (2010) 8 (3): 521–531.
Article history
Received:
July 15 2009
Accepted:
November 19 2009
Citation
Fiona Barker-Reid, Ellen M. Fox, Robert Faggian; Occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes in reclaimed water and river water in the Werribee Basin, Australia. J Water Health 1 September 2010; 8 (3): 521–531. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2010.102
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