Presence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in farm and pet animals.
Enterococcus faecium strains with vanA-mediated glycopeptide resistance were isolated by enrichment culture from the intestines and feces of several animal species, mainly horses and dogs (8% positive), chickens (7% positive), and pigs (6% positive). Other vanA-positive enterococcal strains were identified as E. durans in gallinaceous birds, E. faecalis in a horse, and E. gallinarum in a pheasant. Samples from pigeons, cage birds, and ruminants were negative. It was concluded that vancomycin resistance is widespread among isolates from farm and pet animals.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ghent, Merelbeke, Belgium.
L A
LA
Devriese
M
M
Ieven
H
H
Goossens
P
P
Vandamme
B
B
Pot
J
J
Hommez
F
F
Haesebrouck
D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000382:microbiology*; D000836:Animals, Zoo / Q000382:microbiology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin