Detection of the esp gene in high-level gentamicin resistant Enterococcus faecalis strains from pet animals in Japan.
We investigated the prevalence of the esp gene and the susceptibility to gentamicin in Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium strains obtained from pet animals. Nine of 30 E. faecalis and 2 of 38 E. faecium strains from the pet animals had the esp gene. Three esp-positive E. faecalis strains, which were isolated from two dogs and a cat, showed gentamicin MICs of > or =256 microg/ml and harbored the high-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) gene, aac(6')-Ie-aph(2'')-Ia. Of the nine esp-positive E. faecalis strains, five, including the three strains with the HLGR gene, were closely related by numerical analysis of PFGE patterns. Longitudinal investigation needs to elucidate whether the HLGR gene was incorporated into a subpopulation of the esp-positive E. faecalis.
Harada
Tetsuya
T
Laboratory of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, 4-101 Koyama, Tottori 680-8553, Japan.
Tsuji
Noboru
N
Otsuki
Koichi
K
Murase
Toshiyuki
T
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000662:veterinary; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005839:Gentamicins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C116707:enterococcal surface protein, esp