title: Bacteriophages carrying antibiotic resistance genes in fecal waste from cattle, pigs, and poultry.
abstract: This study evaluates the occurrence of bacteriophages carrying antibiotic resistance genes in animal environments. bla(TEM), bla(CTX-M) (clusters 1 and 9), and mecA were quantified by quantitative PCR in 71 phage DNA samples from pigs, poultry, and cattle fecal wastes. Densities of 3 to 4 log(10) gene copies (GC) of bla(TEM), 2 to 3 log(10) GC of bla(CTX-M), and 1 to 3 log(10) GC of mecA per milliliter or gram of sample were detected, suggesting that bacteriophages can be environmental vectors for the horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal 645, Annex, Floor 0, E-08028 Barcelona, Spain. mmuniesa@ub.edu
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Colomer-Lluch
authors.forename: Lejla
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Imamovic
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jofre
authors.forename: Maite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muniesa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001435:Bacteriophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002417:Cattle; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D011200:Poultry; D013552:Swine; D018440:beta-Lactam Resistance / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents