The impact of municipal sewage sludge stabilization processes on the abundance, field persistence, and transmission of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes to vegetables at harvest

Murray, Roger; Tien, Yuan-Ching; Scott, Andrew; Topp, Edward

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The impact of municipal sewage sludge stabilization processes on the abundance, field persistence, and transmission of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes to vegetables at harvest

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dc.contributor.author: Murray, Roger; Tien, Yuan-Ching; Scott, Andrew; Topp, Edward
dc.date.accessioned: 2023-04-17T15:53:54Z
dc.date.available: 2023-04-17T15:53:54Z
dc.date.issued: 2018-10-06
dc.description.abstract - en: Biosolids were obtained from four Ontario municipalities that vary in how the sewage sludge is treated. These included a Class B biosolids that was anaerobically digested, a Class A biosolids that were heat treated and pelletized (Propell), and two Class A biosolids that were stabilized using either the N-Viro (N-Rich) or Lystek (LysteGro) processes. Viable enteric indicator or pathogenic bacteria in the biosolids were enumerated by plate count, gene targets associated with antibiotic resistance or horizontal gene transfer were detected by PCR, and a subset of these gene targets were quantified by qPCR. Following application at commercial rates to field plots, the persistence of enteric bacteria and gene targets in soil was followed during the growing season. Carrots, radishes and lettuce were sown into the amended and unamended control plots, and the diversity and abundance of gene targets they carried at harvest determined. All three Class A biosolids carried fewer and less abundant antibiotic resistance genes than did the Class B biosolids, in particular the very alkaline N-Viro product (N-Rich). Following application, some gene targets (e.g. int1, sul1, strA/B, aadA) that are typically associated with mobile gene cassettes remained detectable throughout the growing season, whereas others (e.g. ermB, ermF, blaOXA20) that are not associated with cassettes became undetectable within three weeks or less. At harvest a larger number of gene targets were detected on the carrots and radishes than in the lettuce. Overall, land application of Class A biosolids will entrain fewer viable bacteria and genes associated with antibiotic resistance into crop ground than will amendment with Class B biosolids.
dc.identifier.citation: Murray, R., Tien, Y.-C., Scott, A., & Topp, E. (2019). The impact of municipal sewage sludge stabilization processes on the abundance, field persistence, and transmission of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes to vegetables at harvest. Science of the Total Environment, 651(2), 1680-1687. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.030
dc.identifier.doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.10.030
dc.identifier.issn: 1879-1026
dc.identifier.uri: https://open-science.canada.ca/handle/123456789/190
dc.language.iso: en
dc.publisher: Elsevier
dc.rights.openaccesslevel - en: Green
dc.rights.openaccesslevel - fr: Vert
dc.subject - en: Agriculture
dc.subject - fr: Agriculture
dc.subject.en - en: Agriculture
dc.subject.fr - fr: Agriculture
dc.title - en: The impact of municipal sewage sludge stabilization processes on the abundance, field persistence, and transmission of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes to vegetables at harvest
dc.title.fosrctranslation - fr: The impact of municipal sewage sludge stabilization processes on the abundance, field persistence, and transmission of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes to vegetables at harvest
dc.type - en: Article
dc.type - fr: Article
local.article.journalissue: 2
local.article.journaltitle: Science of the Total Environment
local.article.journalvolume: 651
local.article.pagination: 1680-1687
local.peerreview - en: Yes
local.peerreview - fr: Oui