Species distribution and resistance patterns to growth-promoting antimicrobials of enterococci isolated from pigs and chickens in Korea.
A total of 147 Enterococcus faecium and 165 Enterococcus faecalis isolates from fecal samples of chickens and pigs at slaughterhouses in Korea were tested for their resistance to 8 growth-promoting antimicrobials commonly used in animals and quinupristin and dalfopristin. Resistance to most antimicrobials was very common among both E. faecalis and E. faecium. In particular, E. faecalis showed almost no susceptibility to all the antimicrobials tested except penicillin and flavomycin, to which 1.4% and less than 24% showed resistance, respectively. Although the prevalence of resistance was lower than in E. faecalis, E. faecium showed relatively uniform resistance to all the agents tested. Among the antimicrobials tested, virginiamycin and penicillin were the most effective against E. faecium isolates: less than 31% and 41% showed resistance to those 2 antimicrobials, respectively. Penicillin was the only agent that showed relatively strong activity against both E. faecalis and E. faecium. Resistance observed in E. faecalis and E. faecium against most antimicrobials used for growth promotion was more prevalent in Korea than in European countries. The current study is the first report of resistance against feed additive antimicrobials in enterococcal isolates from livestock in Korea.
Hwang
In Yeong
IY
Bacteriology and Parasitology Division, National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Anyang, Gyeonggi-Do, Republic of Korea.
Ku
Hyun Ok
HO
Lim
Suk Kyung
SK
Park
Choi Kyu
CK
Jung
Gab Su
GS
Jung
Suk Chan
SC
Nam
Hyang Mi
HM
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002645:Chickens / Q000382:microbiology*; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology*; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents