Shifts in bacterial communities and antibiotic resistance genes in surface water and gut microbiota of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) in the upper Rio Uberabinha, Brazil

Anthropogenic activities especially water pollution can affect the diversity and composition of microbial communities and promote the spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). In this study, water samples and guppies (Poecilia reticulata) were sampled from six sampling sites along the Uberabinha River in southeastern Brazil, both microbial communities and ARGs of surface waters and intestinal microbiota of guppies (Poecilia reticulata) were detected. According to the results of 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes and Actinobacteria were dominant phyla in both water and intestinal microbiota, but the abundance of putative pathogens was higher at heavily polluted sites. Up to 83% of bacteria in intestinal microbiota originated from water microbiota; this proportion was relatively higher in less polluted compared to polluted environments. ARGs providing resistance of tetracyclines and quinolones were dominant in both water and gut microbiota. The relative abundances of class I integrons and ARGs were as high as 1.74 x 10(-1)/16S rRNA copies and 3.61 x 10(-1)/16S rRNA copies, respectively, at heavily polluted sites. Correlation analysis suggests that integrons and bacteria play key roles in explaining the widespread occurrence of ARGs in the surface, but not in intestinal microbiota. We could rule out the class I integrons a potential intermediary bridge for ARGs between both types of microbiomes. Our results highlight the tight link in microbial communities and ARGs between ambient microbiota of stream ecosystems and intestinal microbiota of fish. Our study could have far-reaching consequences for fisheries and consumer safety and calls for investigations of gut microbiota of target species of both commercial fisheries and recreational (hobby) angling.

Automated summary

This study revealed that water pollution can impact microbial communities and the spread of antibiotic resistance genes, with higher abundance of putative pathogens at heavily polluted sites. The majority of bacteria in intestinal microbiota originated from water microbiota, and the relative abundances of integrons and ARGs were higher in heavily polluted sites.