Origin, fluxes, and reservoirs of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in aquatic ecosystems of a French floodplain.
Fiche publication
Date publication
avril 2022
Journal
The Science of the total environment
Auteurs
Membres identifiés du Cancéropôle Est :
Pr HOCQUET Didier
Tous les auteurs :
Henriot CP, Martak D, Genet S, Bornette G, Hocquet D
Lien Pubmed
Résumé
The release and spread of opportunistic pathogens - some of which are resistant to antibiotics - in the environment is a major public health challenge worldwide. In this study, we found evidence of the origin of such microorganisms and characterized their dispersal and survival in floodplain ecosystems to understand their fate in the environment. We determined the concentrations of Escherichia coli, extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)-producing E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a floodplain of Eastern France using a culture-based method. Furthermore, we assessed the population structure of E. coli isolates by quadruplex PCR, their plasmid replicon content by PCR-based replicon typing, and the nature of their bla genes by PCR and sequencing. The main aquatic ecosystems of the floodplain (river, tributaries, riverine wetlands, and groundwater) were sampled monthly over a one-year cycle. The majority of E. coli isolates retrieved in the studied floodplain were likely of human origin. Moreover, contamination of floodplain aquatic ecosystems by opportunistic pathogens mainly resulted from hydrological fluxes during high-flow periods, suggesting that dispersal and dilution predominated. During low-flow periods, E. coli may be able to survive for several months in isolated ecosystems in which it may find favourable conditions to thrive. The most nutrient-rich and isolated wetlands are consequently potential pathogen reservoirs. The production of ESBL was not a disadvantage for E. coli in low-anthropized floodplain ecosystems.
Mots clés
Antibiotic-resistance, Ecological niche, Floodplain ecosystems, Pathogen, Public health
Référence
Sci Total Environ. 2022 Apr 20;:155353