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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Laboratory for Agriculture and The Environment » Agroecosystems Management Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #313944
Title: Effects of temperature and antibiotics on persistence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in poultry litter

Author
item SULLIVAN, BAILEY - Iowa State University
item SOUPIER, MICHELLE - Iowa State University
item Moorman, Thomas

Submitted to: ASABE Annual International Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/26/2015
Publication Date: 7/26/2015
Citation: Sullivan, B., Soupier, M.L., Moorman, T.B. 2015. Effects of temperature and antibiotics on persistence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in poultry litter [abstract]. ASABE Annual International Meeting. ASABE Annual International Meeting, July 26-29, 2015, New Orleans, LA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The effect of low, residual concentrations of antibiotics in manure and other environmental matrices is not well understood. It has been hypothesized that antibiotic concentrations below clinical MIC (minimal inhibitory concentrations) are still capable of selecting for resistance. The objective of this research is to determine the effects of antibiotics and temperature on the amplification and prevalence of resistant bacteria and resistance genes in poultry litter. Poultry litter from a feeding operation that uses antibiotics for growth promotion will be spiked with either a non-resistant Enterococcus isolate or a tetracycline- and tylosin-resistant Enterococcus isolate to achieve approximately 107 CFU/g litter. These treatments will be combined in a factorial design with tetracycline (100 ppb), tylosin (100 ppb), or no antibiotic addition. The litter will be stored at 10, 20, or 30 °C. Samples will be collected 10 times on days 0, 1, 2, 4, 7, 14, 28, 42, 56, and 84 and analyzed for tylosin, tetracycline, Enterococcus, tylosin-resistant Enterococcus, tetracycline-resistant Enterococcus, erm genes, and tet genes using HPLC/MS3S, membrane filtration, and qPCR methods. Outcomes of this research will determine the effects of sub-inhibitory antibiotic concentrations during poultry litter storage and inform possible strategies to prevent the development and dissemination of antibiotic resistance throughout the environment.