Occurrence and distribution of clinical and veterinary antibiotics in the faeces of a Chinese population

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials Vol. 383; p. 121129
• Main Authors: Wang, Qing, Duan, Yu-Jing, Wang, Shao-Peng, Wang, Li-Tao, Hou, Ze-Lin, Cui, Yu-Xiao, Hou, Jie, Das, Ranjit, Mao, Da-Qing, Luo, Yi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 05.02.2020
• Subjects: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents - analysis; Antibiotic; Antibiotic resistance genes; China; Feces - chemistry; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gut microbiota; Human faeces; Humans; Underdeveloped areas; Veterinary Medicine; China; Gut microbiota; Underdeveloped areas; Antibiotic; Antibiotic resistance genes; Human faeces
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121129

[Display omitted] •The occurrence and distribution of antibiotics typically found in the gut of a Chinese population was detected.•Clinical use and prescriptions were the main antibiotic exposure pathways for children.•Significant differences in antibiotic residues in human faeces were observed and human faeces from underdeveloped areas had higher antibiotic levels. Antibiotics ingested in the human gut may create selective pressure to change the composition of the gut microbiota, which could adversely effect the immune system of the host. However, the occurrence and distribution of antibiotics in the human gut remains unclear. A total population of 180 individuals, across three Chinses regions with different economic development levels, including children, adults, and elders, were sampled in 2017. A total of 19 representative antibiotics, including both clinical and veterinary antibiotics, were investigated in human faeces. While clinical use and prescriptions were the main exposure pathways for children, environmental media were the exposure pathway to adults. In addition, significant differences (P < 0.05) in antibiotic residues in human faeces were observed amongst various economic development levels, where human faeces from underdeveloped areas were mostly associated with higher levels of antibiotics. This study first to investigate the occurrence and distribution of typical antibiotics in the faeces of a Chinese population and thereby provide a reference for the intensive study of the effects and mechanisms of antibiotics on human gut microbiota.