The occurrence of sulfonamide and quinolone resistance genes at the Fildes Peninsula in Antarctica

Antibiotic resistance pollution is globalizing. However, little quantitative data exists regarding the occurrence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in Antarctica, which is central to assessing the level of global contamination of ARGs. Soil, sediment, and animal feces were sampled from 12 sites in the Fildes Peninsula in January and February 2017. The occurrence and distribution of qnrS, sul1 and sul2 were investigated. The results showed that sull was the predominant ARG and that all the ARGs were detected in animal feces. The total absolute abundance of the ARGs in animal feces (5.86 x 10(7) copies) was the highest. Strong and positive correlations between sull and Intl were found, indicating that Intl might play an important role in the creation and spread of ARGs. This data and the analysis are critical for filling the data gap regarding ARGs in Antarctica and for improving understanding of the globalization of antibiotic resistance pollution.