| Title | The meiofauna as neglected carriers of antibiotic resistant and pathogenic bacteria in freshwater ecosystems |
| Abstract | The World Health Organization considers antibiotic resistance as one of the main threats to human and other animals' health. Despite the measures used to limit the spread of antibiotic resistance, the efforts made are not enough to tackle this problem. Thus, it has become important to understand how bacteria acquire and transmit antibiotic resistant genes (ARGs), in particular in the environment, given the close connection between the latter and human and animal health, as defined by the One-Health concept. Aquatic ecosystems are often strongly impacted by anthropogenic activities, making them a source for ARGs and antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB). Although freshwater meiofauna have been the object of active research, few studies have focused on the relationship between the spread of antibiotic resistance and these organisms. In this review, we investigated freshwater meiofauna as carriers of resistances since they play a central role in the aquatic environments and can harbor human and animal potential pathogens. We assessed if these animals could contribute to the spread of ARGs and of potentially pathogenic bacteria. Only four taxa (Rotifera, Chironomidae, Cladocera, Copepoda) were found to be the subject of studies focused on antibiotic resistance. The studies we analyzed, although with some limitations, demonstrated that ARGs and ARB can be found in these animals, and several of them showed the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria for humans and animals within their microbiome. Thus, meiofauna can be considered a source and a reservoir, even if neglected, of ARGs and ARB for the freshwater environments. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of the meiofauna on the spread and persistence of antibiotic resistance in these ecosystems. |
| Source | Journal of limnology (Testo stamp.) 80 |
| Keywords | ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCEAQUATIC ENVIRONMENTBENTHOSPATHOGENS |
| Journal | Journal of limnology (Testo stamp.) |
| Editor | Istituto per lo Studio degli Ecosistemi., Verbania Pallanza, Italia |
| Year | 2021 |
| Type | Articolo in rivista |
| DOI | 10.4081/jlimnol.2021.2054 |
| Authors | Sathicq M.B.; Sbaffi T.; Borgomaneiro G.; Di Cesare A.; Sabatino R. |
| Text | 477464 2021 10.4081/jlimnol.2021.2054 Scopus 2 s2.0 85130262948 ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT BENTHOS PATHOGENS The meiofauna as neglected carriers of antibiotic resistant and pathogenic bacteria in freshwater ecosystems Sathicq M.B.; Sbaffi T.; Borgomaneiro G.; Di Cesare A.; Sabatino R. National Research Council, Water Research Institute, MEG Molecular Ecology Group, Largo Tonolli 50, Verbania, 28922, National Research Council, Water Research Institute, MEG Molecular Ecology Group, Largo Tonolli 50, Verbania, 28922, Italy, , Italy The World Health Organization considers antibiotic resistance as one of the main threats to human and other animals health. Despite the measures used to limit the spread of antibiotic resistance, the efforts made are not enough to tackle this problem. Thus, it has become important to understand how bacteria acquire and transmit antibiotic resistant genes ARGs , in particular in the environment, given the close connection between the latter and human and animal health, as defined by the One Health concept. Aquatic ecosystems are often strongly impacted by anthropogenic activities, making them a source for ARGs and antibiotic resistant bacteria ARB . Although freshwater meiofauna have been the object of active research, few studies have focused on the relationship between the spread of antibiotic resistance and these organisms. In this review, we investigated freshwater meiofauna as carriers of resistances since they play a central role in the aquatic environments and can harbor human and animal potential pathogens. We assessed if these animals could contribute to the spread of ARGs and of potentially pathogenic bacteria. Only four taxa Rotifera, Chironomidae, Cladocera, Copepoda were found to be the subject of studies focused on antibiotic resistance. The studies we analyzed, although with some limitations, demonstrated that ARGs and ARB can be found in these animals, and several of them showed the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria for humans and animals within their microbiome. Thus, meiofauna can be considered a source and a reservoir, even if neglected, of ARGs and ARB for the freshwater environments. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the impact of the meiofauna on the spread and persistence of antibiotic resistance in these ecosystems. 80 Published version http //www.scopus.com/record/display.url eid=2 s2.0 85130262948 origin=inward Articolo in rivista Istituto per lo Studio degli Ecosistemi. 1129 5767 Journal of limnology Testo stamp. Journal of limnology Testo stamp. J. limnol. Testo stamp. Journal of limnology. Testo stamp. SATHICQ MARIA BELEN SABATINO RAFFAELLA SBAFFI TOMASA BORGOMANEIRO GIULIA andrea.dicesare DI CESARE ANDREA |
