Antibiotic resistance patterns of Pseudomonas spp. isolated from faecal wastes in the environment and contaminated surface water.

The Pseudomonas genus, which includes environmental and pathogenic species, is known to present antibiotic resistances, and can receive resistance genes from multi-resistant enteric bacteria released into the environment via faecal rejects. This study was aimed to investigate the resistome of Pseudomonas populations that have been in contact with these faecal bacteria. Thus, faecal discharges originating from human or cattle were sampled (from 12 points and two sampling campaigns) and 41 Pseudomonas species identified (316 isolates studied). The resistance phenotype to 25 antibiotics was determined in all isolates, and we propose a specific antibiotic resistance pattern for 14 species (from 2 to 9 resistances). None showed resistance to aminoglycosides, tetracycline, or polymyxins. Four species carried a very low number of resistances, with none to ß-lactams. Interestingly, we observed the absence of the transcriptional activator soxR gene in these four species. No plasmid transfer was highlighted by conjugation assays, and a few class 1 but no class 2 integrons were detected in strains that may have received resistance genes from Enterobacteria. These results imply that the contribution of the Pseudomonas genus to the resistome of an ecosystem first depends on the structure of the Pseudomonas populations, as they may have very different resistance profiles.

Antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in karstic systems: a biological indicator of the origin of fecal contamination?

Occurrences of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli in two springs of a karstic system (NW France) providing drinking water were determined to study the role of aquifers in the dissemination of the resistance genes. Water samples were collected during wet and dry periods and after a heavy rainfall event to investigate E. coli density, antibiotic resistance patterns, and occurrences of class 1, 2, and 3 integrons. By observing patterns of the resistant isolates (i.e. number and type of resistances) and their occurrences, we were able to define two resistant subpopulations, introduced in the aquifer via surface water: (1) R1-2, characterized by one or two resistance(s), essentially to chloramphenicol and/or tetracycline (96.5%), was always found during the heavy rainfall event; (2) R3-10, characterized by three or more resistances, mostly resistant to tetracycline (94.1%) and beta-lactams (86%), was found transiently. Class 1 and 2 integrons were detected, mostly in the R3-10 subpopulation for class 1 integrons. The characteristics of these two subpopulations strongly suggest that the contamination originates from pasture runoff for the R1-2 subpopulation and from wastewater treatment plant effluents for the R3-10 subpopulation. These two subpopulations of E. coli could be used as biological indicators to determine the origin of groundwater contamination.