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Relationship Between Heavy Metal Accumulation in Fish Muscle and Heavy Metal Resistance Genes in Bacteria Isolated from Fish

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Abstract

Cadmium, cobalt, copper, nickel, and zinc are the most common pollutant heavy metals that can be discharged into the marine environment with different sources. Whiting (Merlangius merlangus) and mullet (Mullus barbatus) were sampled in four seasons in a year to determine Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn levels in the muscle and to determine heavy metal resistance genes (MRGs) such as copA, czc, and ncc genes in coliform bacteria isolated from the fish. In both species, zinc was the most abundant metal, while Cd and the Co levels were scarce. Co level was significantly higher in summer in mullet than that of whiting (p < 0.001). The most prevalent MRGs was determined as copA (46.2%) followed by czc (35.8%) and ncc (17.9%). Increased Co and Ni level in the muscle significantly affected the presence of ncc gene in bacteria, while the presence of ncc and copA genes was affected by Ni and Cu levels found in the fish muscle. There was a significant positive correlation between Cd level in the muscle and presence of czc and ncc gene in the bacteria (p < 0.029). When the levels of Cu, Zn, and Cd increased in the muscle of the fish, occurrence of MRGs genes was increased significantly (p < 0.0001). A strong positive correlation was found between heavy metal resistance levels in fish and the prevalence of E. coli and coliforms that harbor heavy metal resistance genes which will be a problem in aquaculture, aquatic ecosystem, and public health.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Central Fisheries Research Institute laboratory staff in Trabzon.

Funding

The fund for this study was provided by the Central Fisheries Research Institute under Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry Research Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fish Health Department, Central Fisheries Research Institute, 61250, Yomra, Trabzon, Turkey

    Mustafa Ture

  2. Environmental and Resource Management Department, Central Fisheries Research Institute, 61250, Yomra, Trabzon, Turkey

    Muhammed Baran Kilic

  3. Department of Fisheries Technology Engineering, Faculty of Marine Science, Karadeniz Technical University, 61530, Surmene, Trabzon, Turkey

    Ilhan Altinok

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  1. Mustafa Ture
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Correspondence to Ilhan Altinok.

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Ture, M., Kilic, M.B. & Altinok, I. Relationship Between Heavy Metal Accumulation in Fish Muscle and Heavy Metal Resistance Genes in Bacteria Isolated from Fish. Biol Trace Elem Res 199, 1595–1603 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-020-02246-0

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