We investigated the epidemiological characteristics of the antimicrobial resistant Enterococcus isolates from the four major rivers of Korea in 2012. A total 316 surface water samples were collected from three distinct sites (nearby livestock farms, tributaries, and major rivers) at two different seasons (dry season: n = 76, wet season: n = 240). A total 654 bacterial cells were isolated from samples and their genus distribution were determined. We found that Gram-negative bacteria including various genera were prevalent (n = 522, 79.8%), and Enterococcus was the most common genus of Gram-positive bacteria (n = 119, 18.2%). The isolation rate of Gram-negative bacteria was higher in wet season, whereas that of Enterococcus isolates was higher in dry season. The prevalence of Enterococcus isolates was also higher nearby livestock farms than on tributaries and main rivers. Since Enterococcus isolate is a key indicator for animal fecal contamination, the following experiments focused on this microorganism. As compared to a previous report in 2006, the resistance rates in E. faecium to erythromycin (40.0% to 69.9%) and chloramphenicol (0% to 16.4%) were increased, whereas those to penicillin (56.0% to 4.1%) and teicoplanin (36.0% to 0%) were decreased. We also found that antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) E. faecium isolates from rivers and livestock samples shared similar pulsed-filed gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles, validating the transmission of AMR Enterococcus isolates from livestock to river. Taken together, this study provides us with detailed information about bacterial contamination status in four major rivers, and highlights the changes in AMR pattern of Enterococcus isolates, which are expected to have originated from livestock.

본 연구는 4대강 보 설치에 따른 실지렁이류의 분포 특성을 파악하고자 연구를 실시하였다. 현지조사는 2018년 3월부터 10월까지 총 10회 실시하였다. 조사결과 총 18종 35,390 ind. m-2 개체가 출현하였다. Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri (77.1%)이 우점종, Branchiura sowerbyi (9.5%)이 아우점종으로 분석되었다. 건중량 분석결과 총 32.418 g m-2이 계측 되었으며, 각 종별 건중량과 TOC 농도와의 상관 분석 결과 실지렁이, 아가미지렁이와 TOC 농도 간 음의 상관성을 갖는 것으로 나타났다. 실지렁이류와 물리적·이화학적 요인들 간의 다변량 상관분석 결과 퇴적토 깊이, Clay 비율, Silt 비율, Cobble 비율, Pebble 비율, pH, TOC 항목과 상관성을 갖는 것으로 분석되었다 (p<0.05, p<0.01). 조사지역별 실지렁이류 개체수와 퇴적토 깊이 및 Clay의 비율과 비교·분석한 결과 퇴적토의 깊이와 Clay의 비율이 높을수록 개체 수가 많은 것으로 나타났다. 조사시기에 따른 실지렁이류의 개체수, TOC 비교·분석결과 3월부터 10월까지 개체수는 감소하는 경향성을 나타냈으며, TOC는 증가하는 경향성을 갖는 것으로 분석되었다.