Sains Malaysiana 51(2)(2022): 345-357

http://doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2022-5102-02

 

Tetracycline Resistance and Prevalence of Tetracycline Resistance Genes in Bacteria from Marine Aquaculture Farms in Peninsular Malaysia

 

(Rintangan Tetrasiklin dan Kelaziman Gen Rintangan Tetrasiklin dalam Bakteria daripada Ladang Akuakultur Marin di Semenanjung Malaysia)

 

EE LEAN THIANG1,2, CHOON YIP STANLEY CHAI1,2, CHOON WENG LEE1,3, HIDESHIGE TAKADA4, AI JUN WANG5, LAY CHING CHAI1,3 & CHUI WEI BONG1,3,*

 

 

1Institute of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

2Institute of Graduate Studies, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

3Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory, Malaysia

 

4Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Fuchu, Tokyo 18308509, Japan

 

5Third Institute of Oceanography, State Oceanic Administration, Xiamen 361005, China

 

Received: 6 July 2020/Accepted: 11 July 2021

 

ABSTRACT

The indiscriminate use of antibiotic in aquaculture and leaching of antibiotic from aquaculture to the environment may led to the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria and their resistant genes which is a public concern. Five tetracycline antibiotics (minocycline, doxycycline, chlorotetracycline, oxytetracycline and tetracycline) and 14 types of tetracycline genes, tet[(A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (G), (K), (L), (M), (O), (S), (P), (Q) and (X)], were investigated in waters from five marine aquaculture farms in Peninsular Malaysia. Tetracycline was detected in low concentrations from <LOQ to 25.6 ng/L. A total of 93 isolates of bacteria were isolated whereby Vibrio (n=29) and Pseudoalteromonas (n=7) were the predominant bacteria. Forty-eight of the isolates carried tet genes with 22.9% encoded multiple tet genes and 72.9% encoded a single tet gene. tet(A) (n = 20, 42%) was the most prevalent gene followed by tet(B) (n = 14, 29%) and tet(K) (n = 13, 27%). A few common tet carriers (Enterobacter, Vibrio, Photobacterium, and Pseudoalteromonas) carrying tet genes that have not been reported were identified. The values of the risk quotients (RQs) of tetracycline in Matang was 0.28 which posed a medium ecological risk to algae. Thus, the antibiotic residues in the aquaculture farm in Matang need to be monitored closely.

Keywords: Aquaculture; risk assessment; tetracycline; tetracycline resistance gene

 

ABSTRAK

Penggunaan antibiotik secara sembarangan dalam akuakultur dan pengaliran antibiotik daripada akuakultur ke alam sekitar menyebabkan kemunculan dan penyebaran bakteria rintangan antibiotik dan gen rintangan, ini merupakan isu dibimbangkan oleh masyarakat. Lima antibiotik tetrasiklin (minosiklin, doksisiklin, klorotetrasiklin, oksitetrasiklin dan tetrasiklin) dan 14 jenis gen tetrasiklin, tet[(A), (B), (C), (D), (E), (G), (K), (L), (M), (O), (S), (P), (Q) dan (X)], dikaji di perairan daripada lima ladang akuakultur laut di Semenanjung Malaysia. Tetrasiklin dikesan dalam kepekatan dari <LOQ hingga 25.6 ng/L. Sebanyak 93 isolat bakteria telah dipencilkan, Vibrio (n= 29) dan Pseudoalteromonas (n = 7) merupakan bakteria yang dominan. Empat puluh lapan isolat didapati membawa gen tet dengan 22.9% membawa pelbagai gen tet dan 72.9% membawa satu gen tet. tet(A) (n = 20, 42%) merupakan gen yang paling lazim diperoleh diikutitet(B) (n = 14, 29%) dan tet(K) (n = 13, 27%). Sebilangan besar pembawatet biasa (Enterobacter, Vibrio, Photobacterium dan Pseudoalteromonas) didapati membawa gen tet yang belum dilaporkan dan telah dikenal pasti dalam kajian ini. Nilai kuota risiko (RQ) tetrasiklin di Matang didapati 0.28, ia akan menimbulkan risiko ekologi yang sederhana terhadap alga. Oleh itu, sisa antibiotik di ladang akuakultur Matang perlu dipantau dengan teliti.

Kata kunci: Akuakultur; penilaian risiko; tetrasiklin; tetrasiklin gen rintangan

 

 

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  *Corresponding author; email: cwbong@um.edu.my

 

 

 

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