Antibiotic and heavy metal resistance genes in hospital effluents and waterways in Benin

Poor effluent management releases antibiotic and heavy metal resistance genes into waterways.
The objective of this study was to study the presence of antibiotics and heavy metals in the effluents and waterways of
hospitals in Benin. Extraction of genomic DNA from multi-resistant bacterial strains isolated from wastewater samples
waterways and hospitals was carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the Quick-DNA TM miniprep kit (Zymo Research Corp,
United States). Real-time PCR was used to identify twelve antibiotic resistance genes and six antibiotic resistance genes.
resistance to heavy metals. The results showed that sulII (77.77%), sulI (67.67%) and bla TEM-1 (44.44%) were the genes
resistance to antibiotics most detected in Gram-negative bacilli isolated from hospital effluents. Two genes, tetA
(33.33%) and ermB (20%), were found in Gram-positive cocci. zntA (57.57%), czcA (24.24%) and copA (22.22%) are
the genes coding for resistance to heavy metals, the most present in Gram-negative bacilli, but zntA (20%) and
czcA (10%) were both found. in Staphylococcus aureus isolates. Concerning flows, sulII (38.23%), sulI (26.47
%) and bla TEM-1 (23.53%) were detected in Gram-negative bacilli. czcA (38.23%), zntA (35.29%) and copA (11.76%)
are the genes encoding resistance to heavy metals found in Gram-negative bacilli. These results highlight the
need to take measures to guarantee the integrity of natural resources and thus preserve human, animal and
environmental.

Presented by Dr GBOTCHE Elodie during 8th World One Health Congress (Cape Town)