Comparison of Airborne Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the Chicken Farm during Winter and Summer

Information regarding the abundance and dissemination of airborne antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in chicken farms and their correlations with airborne bacteria is limited. In this study, we investigated the bacterial communities and quantified the ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in fecal and air samples in summer and winter. The concentrations of nearly all the airborne ARG and MGE subtypes in winter are three or four orders of magnitude higher than those in summer. Findings reveal that the indoor air of a chicken farm is a reservoir of ARGs. Based on the fecal samples, bacteria might be easily distributed in the air in the intensive chicken farm during winter. The mobility of target ARGs during winter might be stronger than during summer. These results may improve the understanding of airborne ARG transmission and its distribution characteristics and provide a reference for assessing the risks arising from chicken farms. More effort is needed to prevent and control the potential health risks induced by airborne ARGs.