Evaluating the role of microplastics and wastewater in shaping Vibrio spp. and antibiotic resistance gene abundance in urban freshwaters.

ABSTRACT: Urban rivers in Sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly affected by microbial pathogens, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and microplastic (MP) pollution. This study assessed the abundance of Vibrio spp. and their tetracycline gene (tetB) relative to the total bacterial community in water and MP biofilms collected from ten sites along the Swartkops and Kat rivers, Eastern Cape, South Africa. The aim is to explore whether MPs disproportionately associate with Vibrio spp. or tetB, relative to the surrounding water, by comparing gene abundance normalised to total bacterial 16 S rRNA. The physicochemical water quality was assessed, and quantitative PCR targeting the Vibrio-specific 16 S rRNA gene and tetB gene was performed. Mean relative abundance of Vibrio-specific 16 S rRNA gene was 0.18 cop

SUBMITTER: Nnadozie HO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12749143 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature