title: Genetic detection and multilocus sequence typing of vanA-containing Enterococcus strains from mullets fish (Liza ramada).
abstract: Enterococci have emerged as important nosocomial and community-acquired pathogens in humans. The presence of vanA-enterococci was investigated in 103 fecal samples recovered from mullets fish (Liza ramada). All fecal samples were inoculated in Slanetz-Bartley agar plates supplemented with 4 mg/L of vancomycin for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) recovery and two isolates/sample were characterized. Antibiotic susceptibility was tested for 11 antibiotics by disk diffusion and agar dilution methods. VRE identification was performed by biochemical and molecular methods. Additionally, the mechanisms of resistance to glycopeptides (vanA, vanB, vanC1, vanC2, and vanD) and other antibiotics [erm(A), erm(B), tet(L), tet(M), aph(2'')-aac(6'), aph(3')-IIIa, ant(6'), vat(D), vat(E)] as well as the presence of enterococcal surface protein (esp) and hyl virulence factors were investigated. vanA-Enterococcus faecium isolates were recovered from 4 of 103 tested samples, and they showed glycopeptide and erythromycin resistances. Three of them were also ampicillin resistant, two showed resistance to tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, and kanamycin, and one showed resistance to gentamicin. The tet(M) and erm(B) genes were found in all tetracycline- and erythromycin-resistant strains, respectively. The aph(3')-III and aph(2'')-aac(6') genes were identified in the kanamycin- and gentamicin-resistant isolates, respectively. The IS1216 element was identified within vanX-vanY region of Tn1546 in two vanA isolates. The hyl and esp virulence genes were found in four and two isolates, respectively. vanA-strains were ascribed to sequence types ST280 (two isolates) and ST273 (two isolates), including both lineages into the clonal complex CC17. Mullets fish can excrete VRE in their feces and may be a reservoir for such resistant bacteria that can be transmitted to other animals including humans.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Studies of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Catarina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carneiro
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Hajer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Radhouani
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pardal
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Igrejas
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poeta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D019729:Carbon-Oxygen Ligases / Q000235:genetics*; D016984:Enterococcus faecium / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000235:genetics; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing / Q000379:methods; D023701:Smegmamorpha / Q000382:microbiology*; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020713:Vancomycin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006020:Glycopeptides; C071437:VanA ligase, Bacteria; D037521:Virulence Factors; D014640:Vancomycin; D019729:Carbon-Oxygen Ligases