Controlling AMR in the Pig Industry: Is It Enough to Restrict Heavy Metals?

Na Li, Hongna Li, Changxiong Zhu, Chong Liu, Guofeng Su and Jianguo Chen ()
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Na Li: Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Hongna Li: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Changxiong Zhu: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Chong Liu: Institute of Environment and Sustainable Development in Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
Guofeng Su: Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
Jianguo Chen: Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 18, 1-12

Abstract: Heavy metals have the potential to influence the transmission of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). However, the effect on AMR caused by heavy metals has not been clearly revealed. In this study, we used a microcosm experiment and metagenomics to examine whether common levels of Cu and Zn in pig manure influence AMR transmission in manured soil. We found that the abundance of 204 ARGs significantly increased after manure application, even though the manure did not contain antibiotic residuals. However, the combined addition of low Cu and Zn (500 and 1000 mg/kg, respectively) only caused 14 ARGs to significantly increase, and high Cu and Zn (1000 and 3000 mg/kg, respectively) caused 27 ARGs to significantly increase. The disparity of these numbers suggested that factors within the manure were the primary driving reasons for AMR transmission, rather than metal amendments. A similar trend was found for biocide and metal resistance genes (BMRGs) and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). This study offers deeper insights into AMR transmission in relation to the effects of manure application and heavy metals at commonly reported levels. Our findings recommend that more comprehensive measures in controlling AMR in the pig industry are needed apart from restricting heavy metal additions.

Keywords: heavy metal; metagenomic sequencing; soil; pig manure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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