Grazing does not increase soil antibiotic resistome in two types of grasslands in Inner Mongolia, China

Abstract

Long-term livestock grazing often comes with inputs of manure and urine of animals to grassland soils and can influence the microbial communities. However, the effects of grazing on the diversity and abundance of soil antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are still obscure. Here we profiled soil resistome using high-throughput quantitative PCR analysis from desert and typical grasslands (Siziwang and Xilingol steppe, respectively) in Inner Mongolia, each with four grazing intensities (no grazing, light grazing, moderate grazing, and heavy grazing). Totally, 54 and 39 ARGs were detected in the Siziwang steppe and the Xilingol steppe, respectively. The relative abundance of ARGs significantly dec..