Abstract:To evaluate the bacterial antibiotic resistance and the antibiotic resistance gene transmission characteristics in the monoculture and chicken-perch co-culture models of freshwater perch, we collected the sediment, water, fish, and chicken manure samples and isolated and identified 243 strains. Through the antimicrobial susceptibility test with the K-B method, PCR detection of antibiotic resistance genes and integrons, and conjugation and transfer experiments under antibiotic pressure, we systematically compared the antibiotic resistance characteristics and antibiotic resistance gene transmission mechanisms in the two models. The results showed that the resistance rates of the isolates to 11 antibiotics in the co-culture model were significantly higher than those in the monoculture model, and the antibiotic resistance of chicken manure was the most serious among all the samples. Moreover, the proportion of multi-drug resistant strains in the co-culture model was higher. Seventeen and 11 antibiotic resistance genes were detected in the co-culture and monoculture models, respectively. The detection rates of 11 antibiotic resistance genes in the co-culture model were significantly higher than those in the monoculture model. Integron analysis indicated that the detection rates of the three types of integrons in the co-culture model were all higher than those in the monoculture model. The co-occurrence network analysis revealed a co-occurrence relationship with quinolone and sulfonamide resistance genes. The conjugation transfer experiment confirmed that the transfer frequency of sul1 of the isolates in the co-culture model was higher than that in the monoculture model, and the sub-inhibitory concentration of sulfamethazine could increase the conjugation transfer frequency. To sum up, the chicken-perch co-culture has exacerbated the enrichment and spread of antibiotic resistance genes. It is suggested that special attention should be paid to the supervision of the co-culture model to reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance spread.