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Higher normalized concentrations of tetracycline resistance found in ballast and harbor water compared to ocean water.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Gerhard, WA; Gunsch, CK
Published in: Marine pollution bulletin
February 2020

Although ballast water is a known vector for the global transport of microorganisms, the Ballast Water Management Convention only sets limits for indicator organisms and does not consider antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Herein, we examined the concentration of indicator organisms and prevalence of three ARGs (sul1, tet (M), and vanA) in a total of 53 ballast, 21 harbor, and 8 ocean samples collected in Singapore, China, South Africa, and California. E. coli was found in significantly higher concentrations in ballast samples obtained in Singapore and China compared to South Africa (Singapore, p = 0.040) and California (Singapore, p < 0.001; China, p = 0.038). Harbor samples from China had significantly higher concentrations of E. coli than Singapore (p = 0.049) and California (p = 0.001). When compared to ocean samples, there were significantly higher concentrations of normalized tet(M) in ballast samples from California (p = 0.011) and Singapore (p = 0.019) and in harbor samples from California (p = 0.018), Singapore (p = 0.010), and South Africa (p = 0.008). These findings suggest that microbial loads significantly differ among ports. Furthermore, certain ARGs are enriched in ballast and harbor waters when compared to ocean water, which suggests that ballast waters have the potential to either transport higher concentrations of certain ARGs or that ballast tank conditions may exert selective pressure for some ARGs.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Marine pollution bulletin

DOI

EISSN

1879-3363

ISSN

0025-326X

Publication Date

February 2020

Volume

151

Start / End Page

110796

Related Subject Headings

  • Water Microbiology
  • Tetracycline Resistance
  • South Africa
  • Singapore
  • Ships
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • Escherichia coli
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • China
 

Citation

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MLA
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Gerhard, W. A., & Gunsch, C. K. (2020). Higher normalized concentrations of tetracycline resistance found in ballast and harbor water compared to ocean water. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 151, 110796. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110796
Gerhard, William A., and Claudia K. Gunsch. “Higher normalized concentrations of tetracycline resistance found in ballast and harbor water compared to ocean water.Marine Pollution Bulletin 151 (February 2020): 110796. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110796.
Gerhard, William A., and Claudia K. Gunsch. “Higher normalized concentrations of tetracycline resistance found in ballast and harbor water compared to ocean water.Marine Pollution Bulletin, vol. 151, Feb. 2020, p. 110796. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2019.110796.
Journal cover image

Published In

Marine pollution bulletin

DOI

EISSN

1879-3363

ISSN

0025-326X

Publication Date

February 2020

Volume

151

Start / End Page

110796

Related Subject Headings

  • Water Microbiology
  • Tetracycline Resistance
  • South Africa
  • Singapore
  • Ships
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Marine Biology & Hydrobiology
  • Escherichia coli
  • Environmental Monitoring
  • China