Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes in agricultural soils: A systematic analysis

Misuse and overuse of antibiotics have contributed to the rise of antimicrobial resistance as one of the top public health threats. Antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are prevalent in agricultural soils due to the widespread application of livestock and organic wastes. However, information about the occurrence, distribution, and risk of antibiotics and ARGs in agricultural soils is lacking for many scenarios. In this study, based on 2225 observations from 135 independent studies, we summarized the concentration or abundance of antibiotics or ARGs under different fertilizer sources and land-use patterns, analyzed the contributions of key environmental factors to the occurrence of antibiotics and ARGs in agricultural soils, and highlighted the potential ecological risk of typical antibiotics and the relationship between ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Our results showed that cattle manure, chicken manure, swine manure, and sewage sludge were the primary pollution sources of antibiotics and ARGs in agricultural soils, and sulfonamides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, and their corresponding ARGs were the main pollution types. Land-use type, soil, and climatic factors affected antibiotics concentration and ARG abundances. MGEs play a vital role in promoting the dissemination of ARGs, especially the sul1 gene is closely related to intI1. In conclusion, our findings and future research exploring these topics will contribute to better management of antibiotic and ARG contamination in agricultural soils and their risk to human health.

Automated summary

Misuse and overuse of antibiotics have led to the rise of antimicrobial resistance. In agricultural soils, antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are mostly found due to the application of livestock and organic wastes. Cattle manure, chicken manure, swine manure, and sewage sludge are the primary sources of antibiotics and ARGs in agricultural soils. Sulfonamides, tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, and corresponding ARGs are the major types of pollution. Land-use type, soil, and climatic factors affect the concentrations of antibiotics and abundances of ARGs. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs), especially the sul1 gene, play a vital role in promoting the dissemination of ARGs. Better management of antibiotic and ARG contamination in agricultural soils is important for human health.