Determination of Antibiotic Resistance Genes in the Interior Bay of Puno-Peru, Lake Titicaca

Water can serve as a source of genetic resistance and act as an amplifier and/or reservoir for genes acquired by human pathogens, which can be released into the environment as pollutants. The interior bay of Puno, part of Lake Titicaca, is a popular tourist attraction, being an active component of the dynamics of the city of Puno. Therefore, the determination of the presence of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in water samples from the interior bay of Puno of six collection points was the main objective of this research work. DNA extraction was conducted, followed by the identification and quantification of 16S rRNA and Escherichia coli uidA gene, two ARGs (blaTEM and qacE Delta 1), and class 1 integron-integrase gene (intI1) by means of quantitative PCR. The intI1 and qacE Delta 1 genes were detected throughout the interior bay of Puno; however, the abundance of the blaTEM gene was comparatively lower. The uidA gene was reported only in some sampled points with < LOQ. These findings should raise concerns regarding the potential risk of their dissemination in Lake Titicaca and their impact on public health.