title: Detection of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Source and Drinking Water Samples from a First Nations Community in Canada.
abstract: Access to safe drinking water is now recognized as a human right by the United Nations. In developed countries like Canada, access to clean water is generally not a matter of concern. However, one in every five First Nations reserves is under a drinking water advisory, often due to unacceptable microbiological quality. In this study, we analyzed source and potable water from a First Nations community for the presence of coliform bacteria as well as various antibiotic resistance genes. Samples, including those from drinking water sources, were found to be positive for various antibiotic resistance genes, namely, ampC, tet(A), mecA, β-lactamase genes (SHV-type, TEM-type, CTX-M-type, OXA-1, and CMY-2-type), and carbapenemase genes (KPC, IMP, VIM, NDM, GES, and OXA-48 genes). Not surprisingly, substantial numbers of total coliforms, including Escherichia coli, were recovered from these samples, and this result was also confirmed using Illumina sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. These findings deserve further attention, as the presence of coliforms and antibiotic resistance genes potentially puts the health of the community members at risk.
  
  
  
  In this study, we highlight the poor microbiological quality of drinking water in a First Nations community in Canada. We examined the coliform load as well as the presence of antibiotic resistance genes in these samples. This study examined the presence of antibiotic-resistant genes in drinking water samples from a First Nations Community in Canada. We believe that our findings are of considerable significance, since the issue of poor water quality in First Nations communities in Canada is often ignored, and our findings will help shed some light on this important issue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Dinesh M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Hein Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Tun
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Jenna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Poole
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Patidar
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Ru
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Ruidong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mi
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Geethani E A
authors.initials: GEA
authors.lastname: Amarawansha
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: W G Dilantha
authors.initials: WGD
authors.lastname: Fernando
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.|Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Ehsan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Khafipour
authors.affiliation: Department of Soil Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Annemieke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farenhorst
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada ayush.kumar@umanitoba.ca.|Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
authors.forename: Ayush
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002170:Canada; D060766:Drinking Water / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D060766:Drinking Water