Bacterial multi-resistance to antibiotics in water from plant cavities (phytotelms) in a deep tropical forest from Costa Rica

Bacterial multi-resistance to antibiotics in water from plant cavities (phytotelms) in a deep tropical forest from Costa Rica

Authors

  • Stephanny Sánchez-Vargas Universidad Nacional, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Microbiología Marina (LaMMaR), Heredia, Costa Rica https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0396-0598
  • Paula Vargas-Jiménez Universidad Nacional, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Ecología Funcional y Ecosistemas Tropicales (LEFET), Heredia, Costa Rica https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0762-2158
  • Luis Vega-Corrales Universidad Nacional, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Microbiología Marina (LaMMaR), Heredia, Costa Rica https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3389-4373
  • Junior Pastor Pérez-Molina Universidad Nacional, Escuela de Ciencias Biológicas, Laboratorio de Ecología Funcional y Ecosistemas Tropicales (LEFET), Heredia, Costa Rica https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3396-0599

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v15i2.4675

Keywords:

Monteverde cloud forest, urban zone, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), bromeliads tank, understory, deep forest

Abstract

Introduction: The spread of antimicrobial resistance in natural environments continues to be reported throughout the world; nevertheless, there is no study about phytotelms (water in the natural cavities of plants) in the deep understory of tropical cloud forests from Costa Rica. Objective: To detect phytotelm antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains in a Costa Rican forest and nearby town. Methods: We used the disk diffusion method to analyze the antimicrobial resistance of 10 gram-negative bacterial strains from phytotelm water collected from 10 bromeliads and 10 heliconias in both sites. Results: Three strains were multidrug resistant to more than three antibiotics in each site, and only one strain was susceptible to all antibiotics. Antibiotic resistance was similar in both environments. Conclusions: Phytotelm can be a rapid, cost-effective, and simple source for detecting antimicrobial resistance in unexplored environments.

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Published

2023-10-18

How to Cite

Sánchez-Vargas, S., Vargas-Jiménez, P., Vega-Corrales, L., & Pérez-Molina, J. P. (2023). Bacterial multi-resistance to antibiotics in water from plant cavities (phytotelms) in a deep tropical forest from Costa Rica. UNED Research Journal, 15(2), e4675. https://doi.org/10.22458/urj.v15i2.4675

Issue

Vol. 15 No. 2 (2023)

Section

Short Communication

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