Impacts of dietary copper on the swine gut microbiome and antibiotic resistome

• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159609
• Publication Date: 2022-10-21T04:08:24Z
• Authors: Julius Emil Brinck; Simon Bo Lassen; Asal Forouzandeh; Ting Pan; Yan-Zi Wang; Alessandra Monteiro; Laia Blavi; David Solà-Oriol; Hans H. Stein; Jian-Qiang Su; Kristian K. Brandt
• Keywords: Resistome; Animal Feed

Restrictions on antibiotic growth promoters have prompted livestock producers to use alternative promoters, and dietary copper (Cu) supplementation is currently being widely used in pig production. However, elevated doses of Cu constitute a risk for co-selection resistance the may depend type Cu-based feed additives used. We here report first controlled experiment investigating impact two contrasting overall swine gut microbiome resistome. DNA was extracted from fecal samples (n = 96) collected at four time points during 116 days 120 pigs allotted three treatments: control, divalent sulfate (CuSO4; 250 μg g-1 feed), monovalent oxide (Cu2O; feed). Bacterial community composition, genes (ARGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs) were assessed, bioavailable ([Cu]bio) determined using whole-cell bacterial bioreporters. increased total concentrations ([Cu]total) [Cu]bio feces 8-10 fold least 670-1000 fold, respectively, but with no significant differences between sources. The harbored highly abundant diverse ARGs MGEs irrespective treatments throughout experiment. Microbiomes differed significantly stages tended converge over time, only minor changes composition resistome could be linked supplementation. A correlation (i.e., taxa present) ARG prevalence patterns observed by Procrustes analysis. Overall, results did not provide evidence Cu-induced or even concentration level exceeding maximal permitted diets EU (25 150 depending age).