RESUMO
Confined animal feeding operations generate high concentrations of airborne antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including pathogenic strains that may pose a health risk to both animals and farm workers and pollute the local air environment. In this study, tetracycline and erythromycin-resistant bacteria were used as examples to study the biodiversity and community structure of airborne antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animal farms. The Anderson sampler was used to collect bioaerosols samples from the inside environment and outside atmospheric environments. A comparative analysis of biological differences of antibiotic-resistant bacteria was conducted on fine and coarse particles, bioaerosol samples inside the house, fecal samples, and inside and outside bioaerosol samples based on the result of the Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The key genus that drives the above differences was also studied. Results showed that the biodiversity of airborne erythromycin-resistant bacteria was higher than that of airborne tetracycline-resistant bacteria, and the biodiversity of bioaerosol samples in the house was higher than that in fecal samples. There were no significant differences in the biodiversity and community structure of airborne antibiotic-resistant bacteria between fine and coarse particles. Actinobacteria is one of the key bacteria responsible for the differences between erythromycin-resistant bacteria and other bacterial populations. Staphylococcus is one of the key genera of tetracycline-resistant flora that is distinguished from erythromycin resistance and all bacterial flora. The results of the community structure showed that there was no significant difference in the dominant flora and the community structure of tetracycline and erythromycin-resistant bacteria. The community structure of feces and bioaerosol samples is different at the genus level, and the dominant bacteria are likewise different. The results of this study provide basic data for the accurate assessment of the current status of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in animal farms and their ecological risks.
