Antibiotic Resistance Characterization of Environmental Isolated from River Mula-Mutha, Pune District, India.

In the current study, ceftazidime- and ciprofloxacin-resistant—or dual drug-resistant (DDR)— were isolated from river Mula-Mutha, which flows through rural Pune district and Pune city. The DDR were further examined for antibiotic resistance to six additional antibiotics. The study also included detection of genes responsible for ceftazidime and ciprofloxacin resistance and vectors for horizontal gene transfer. Twenty-eight percent of the identified DDR were resistant to more than six antibiotics, with 12% being resistant to all eight antibiotics tested. Quinolone resistance was determined through the detection of , , and genes, whereas cephalosporin resistance was confirmed through detection of TEM, CTX-M-15, CTX-M-27 and SHV genes. Out of 219 DDR , 8.2% were positive and 0.4% were positive. Percentage of isolates positive for the TEM, CTX-M-15 and CTX-M-27 genes were 32%, 46% and 0.9%, respectively. None of the DDR tested carried the , SHV and genes. Percentage of DDR carrying Class 1 and 2 integrons (mobile genetic elements) were 47% and 8%, respectively. The results showed that antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and integrons were present in the isolated from the river at points adjoining and downstream of Pune city.