<i>Escherichia coli</i> Phylogenetic and Antimicrobial Pattern as an Indicator of Anthropogenic Impact on Threatened Freshwater Mussels
Freshwater bivalves are widely used as accumulation indicators and monitoring tools for assessing contaminant effects on different levels of biological integration. This pilot study aimed to explore the phylogenetic diversity of <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolated from freshwater mussels (&...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Book |
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MDPI AG,
2023-09-01T00:00:00Z.
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| Summary: | Freshwater bivalves are widely used as accumulation indicators and monitoring tools for assessing contaminant effects on different levels of biological integration. This pilot study aimed to explore the phylogenetic diversity of <i>Escherichia coli</i> isolated from freshwater mussels (<i>Margaritifera margaritifera</i> and <i>Potomida littoralis</i>) and characterize their phenotypes and antibiotic resistance profiles. Samples were collected in the Rabaçal and Tua Rivers, in the Douro basin, Portugal-two sites representing different levels of anthropogenic contamination. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed via the disk diffusion method with 21 antibiotics. Results showed that 31% of isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Thus, freshwater mussels provide an effective and time-integrated approach for identifying/quantifying fecal indicators, including MDR bacteria. PCR-based assays were designed for assessing phylogenetic <i>E. coli</i> groups. Among the <i>E. coli</i> isolates, the highest prevalence (44%) was observed in group D or E, followed by group E or Clade I (25%), group A (19%), and group B1 (13%). <i>E. coli</i> isolated from <i>M. margaritifera</i> predominantly exhibited a higher prevalence of phylogroups D or E, whereas <i>E. coli</i> from <i>P. littoralis</i> showed associations with phylogroups E or clade I, B1, A, and D or E. Our results provide new insights into the phylogenetic diversity of <i>E. coli</i> in freshwater bivalves. Additionally, the findings highlight the possible linkage of phylogroups with the host species, the geographical location in the water stream, and human activity. Using <i>E. coli</i> as a bioindicator isolated from freshwater mussels helps us grasp how human activities affect the environment. This study has important implications for those interested in safeguarding water resources, especially in tackling antibiotic resistance in aquatic ecosystems. |
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| Item Description: | 10.3390/antibiotics12091401 2079-6382 |