Tetracycline resistance genes persist in soil amended with cattle feces independently from chlortetracycline selection pressure

• Addition of cattle feces to grassland soils increases soil tetracycline resistome.
• Tetracycline resistance genes persisted in feces-amended soils for several months.
• The gene persistence was higher in meadow soil compared to pasture soils.
• The presence of chlortetracycline in soils did not enhance the gene persistence.

Antibiotic residues and antibiotic resistance genes originating from animal waste represent environmental pollutants with possible human health consequences. In this study, we addressed the question whether chlortetracycline (CTC) residues in soils can act as selective pressure enhancing the persistence of tetracycline (TC-r) resistance genes in grassland soils receiving cattle feces. We performed a soil microcosm experiment, using 3 grassland soils with different management history, which were incubated with feces from conventionally raised dairy cows. The microcosms included treatments with a low dose (0.2 mg kg−1), a high dose (100 mg kg−1) and no CTC. The presence and abundance of TC-r genes tet(O), tet(Q) and tet(W) and the intI1 gene coding for class 1 integrase were assessed with real-time PCR after 0, 14, 28, 56 and 86 d of incubation. The genes tet(Q) and intI1 persisted in all feces-containing treatments for at least 28 d, and tet(W) and tet(O) for at least 86 d, though they went close to limits of quantification after 14–28 d in most cases. The soil, but not the dose of CTC, significantly affected the gene persistence. Concluding, certain TC-r genes originating from cattle feces may persist in soil for several months independently from antibiotic selection pressure.

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