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Occurrence of Antibiotic Resistance in Lotic Ecosystems
Summary
This review examines the occurrence and spread of antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic-resistant bacteria in lotic (flowing water) ecosystems, analyzing how rivers and streams serve as reservoirs and conduits for the environmental dissemination of antibiotic resistance. Researchers synthesized evidence showing that agricultural runoff, wastewater discharge, and hospital effluents are major contributors to resistance gene loads in freshwater systems.
Antibiotic resistance is a matter of global public health concern. Antibiotic resistance isdisseminated by antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) which are carried by antibiotic resistancebacteria (ARBs). Lotic ecosystems like rivers which has flowing water can spread ARGs fromone location to another. Such dispersion of ARGs can also move through food chains and foodwebs making the spread of antibiotic resistance more complex and widespread. Detection ofthese ARGs is important for understanding the origin and pathways of antibiotic resistancein our waterways. Both culturing and non-culturing methods can be used for detection ofthese ARGs. Overall, understanding the sources, assessing the presence, and determining thedissemination of antibiotic resistance is important for us to understand the level of antibioticpollution in our waterbodies.
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