Poster Presentation Australian Microbial Ecology Conference 2024

Assessing the microbial diversity and antibiotic resistance build-up in soils within dog parks. (#15)

Muhammad Nouman Riaz 1 , Andrew Boden 1 , Bhakti Bhudiya 1
  1. Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Dog parks are essential for promoting exercise and social interaction among dogs and their owners but present ecological challenges, particularly related to soil microbial diversity and the development of antibiotic resistance (AR). This study aims to evaluate microbial diversity and antibiotic resistance in urban dog park soils by comparing microbial communities and ARG prevalence in dog parks, other urban green spaces, and pristine environments. Soil samples were collected and analyzed using various microbiological techniques, including gram staining, disc diffusion assays, and DNA sequencing. The results revealed a significant presence of gram-positive bacteria in dog park soils, with a predominance of penicillin-resistant bacteria. DNA extraction and PCR confirmed the presence of bacterial DNA, with successful amplification of bands ranging from 1000 to 1500 base pairs. These findings emphasize the ecological impact of dog parks on soil microbial communities and highlight the importance of monitoring and managing antibiotic resistance in urban environments to reduce health risks for both animals and humans.