The occurrence, spatial and temporal distribution, and environmental routes of tetracycline resistance and integrase genes in Crassostrea virginica beds

Rapid spread of antibiotic resistance genes has placed them under consideration as emerging environmental contaminants. The occurrence and distribution of tetracycline resistance genes (TRG) and integrons (INT) have been monitored for 2 years in seven oyster beds located in the Altamaha River (Georgia, USA) estuary. TRG/INT profiles varied both temporally (p < 0.025) and spatially between oysters and their environment (p < 0.005) suggesting shifts in sources of contamination and selection of TRG/INT carriers by oysters. The latter was confirmed via analysis of tet(D) and tet(G) distribution between oysters and their environment. Uncommon class 3 integrons dominated the integrons’ profile in oysters. The frequency of TRG/INT incidents correlated (R2 ⩾ 0.9) to (i) dissolved solids, (ii) potential water density, and (iii) turbidity but not to the amount of local precipitation suggesting the watershed as the dominant source of TRG/INT contamination and other than directly rainfall-caused run-offs as its environmental route.