MLST and a genetic study of antibiotic resistance and virulence factors in vanA-containing Enterococcus from buzzards (Buteo buteo).
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the occurrence of faecal carriage of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in Buteo buteo and to study the associated resistance and virulence genes.


RESULTS
The presence of VRE was investigated in 33 faecal samples of B. buteo. Samples were seeded in Slanetz-Bartley agar plates supplemented with vancomycin for VRE recovery. Genes encoding antimicrobial resistance and virulence were studied by polymerase chain reaction. Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates were characterized by multilocus sequence typing. VRE with an acquired mechanism of resistance (vanA genotype) were detected in 9% of samples analysed (Ent. faecium and Enterococcus durans). In addition, 27% of samples contained VRE with an intrinsic mechanism of resistance (Enterococcus gallinarum, vanC1). All vanA-containing isolates showed resistance to tetracycline and erythromycin and harboured the tet(M) and/or tet(L) genes, in addition to the ermB gene. The vat(E) and/or vat(D), cat(A) and aph(3')-IIIa genes were identified in quinupristin-dalfopristin-, chloramphenicol-, and kanamycin-resistant vanA-containing strains, respectively. The sequence types ST273 and ST5 were identified in two vanA-positive Ent. faecium isolates, and the presence of hyl, gelE, cylA, cylL and cylM virulence genes and gelatinase activity were identified in Ent. faecium ST5 strain.


CONCLUSIONS
The intestinal tract of B. buteo could be a reservoir of vanA-positive enterococci.


CONCLUSIONS
First study focused to define the occurrence of vanA-containing Enterococcus strains in B. buteo.
Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
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Radhouani
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Coelho
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Sargo
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Araújo
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López
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Torres
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Igrejas
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Poeta
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019729:Carbon-Oxygen Ligases / Q000235:genetics*; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D046093:Falconiformes / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C071437:VanA ligase, Bacteria; D037521:Virulence Factors; D014640:Vancomycin; D019729:Carbon-Oxygen Ligases