Detection of antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria isolated from water and fish samples from beymelek lagoon

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the presence of the most common antibiotic resistance genes in bacteria isolated from water and fish samples in Beymelek lagoon, one of the natural aquatic environments. Material and Methods: The research was carried out with water samples taken at two different periods from five different points of the Beymelek lagoon, located within the borders of Demre district of Antalya province, and fish species obtained from the lagoon-sea connection point. After the bacteria isolated from water and fish samples were identified, they were subjected to PCR for the 16 genes identified. Temperature, pH, and salinity were measured at the points where water samples were taken, and the bacterial species and the presence of selected antibiotic resistance genes were compared in line with the data obtained. Results: 16 bacterial strains were isolated from February and 12 from August water samples. The increase in water temperature and salinity encouraged the isolation of some bacteria, while the total number of bacteria decreased. The common bacterial species isolated from both water samples and fish were Pseudomonas luteola, Pseudomonas stutzeri, Kocuria kristinae and Kocuria rhizophila, while the common bacteria isolated from water samples were Micrococcus luteus and Kocuria rhizophila. In 38 bacterial strains, 16 antibiotic resistance genes were analysed and only intI1, blaTEM, ermB, sul1, sul2 and tetW genes were isolated. Conclusion: In this study, the presence of antibiotic-resistance genes in environmental bacteria has been confirmed.