@conference{
author = "Schachner, Iris and Kolm, Claudia and Vierheilig, Julia and Savio, Domenico and Zarfel, Gernot and Koller, Michael and Kittinger, Clemens and Jakwerth, Stefan and Linke, Rita and Kolarević, Stoimir and Kračun-Kolarević, Margareta and Tóth, Erika and Farnleitner, Andreas H. and Kirschner, Alexander K.T.",
year = "2022",
abstract = "Human-induced antimicrobial resistance is an emerging concern in aquatic environments. Faecal pollution
sources represent potential propagation pathways, however large-scale quantitative studies in whole river
systems are missing. In the course of the Joint Danube Survey, the Danube River was investigated for the
fourth time in summer 2019 from its headwaters to the delta. Microbial-faecal pollution patterns and the
occurrence of selected antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were studied. Subsequently, a one-year time series analysis at selected relevant sites allowed to assess temporal variability.
The intestinal bacterium Escherichia coli was quantified according to standard cultivation methods as indicator for total faecal pollution. In general, longitudinal patterns of faecal pollution showed a comparable picture to previous Joint Danube Surveys, with low to moderate pollution in the upper reaches (Germany, Austria) and critical to strong pollution in the middle and lower sections, especially in Serbia. Genetic microbial source tracking methods, determined via quantitative PCR, allowed us to define human faecal pollution as dominant pollution source along the whole Danube. This trend could be generally confirmed during the annual sampling campaign. To estimate the potential of permanent colonialization of faecal microorganisms within the Danube River ecosystem, biofilms as potential reservoirs were studied along the course of the entire river. Here, E.coli were ubiquitously present but highly variable. Ongoing analyses on the occurrence and quantity of selected ARGs will identify hotspots of antimicrobial resistance and their relationship to faecal pollution along the Danube River and thereby contribute to guide future monitoring and management strategies.",
publisher = "Belgrade: Serbian Society of Microbiology",
journal = "Electronic abstract book: FEMS Conference on Microbiology in association with Serbian Society of Microbiology; 2022 Jun 30 - Jul 2; Belgrade, Serbia",
title = "Faecal pollution as potential driver of antibiotic resistance genes in the Danube River",
pages = "137-138",
url = "https://hdl.handle.net/21.15107/rcub_ibiss_6230"
}
