title: Antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in Escherichia coli and enterococci from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes).
abstract: The aims of the study were to analyse the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and the mechanisms implicated, as well as the virulence factors, in faecal Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. from red foxes. From 52 faecal samples, 22 E. coli (42.3%) and 50 enterococci (96.2%) isolates were recovered (one/sample). A high percentage of E. coli isolates exhibited resistance to streptomycin, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole or ampicillin (54-27%), and they harboured the aadA, tet(A) and/or tet(B), sul1 and blaTEM resistance genes, respectively. The E. coli isolates were ascribed to the 4 major phylogroups, D (41% of isolates), A (31.8%), B1 (18.2%) and B2 (9.1%), and carried the fimA (63.3%) or aer (13.6%) virulence genes. Among enterococcal isolates, Enterococcus faecium was the most prevalent species (50%). A high percentage of enterococcal isolates showed tetracycline resistance (88%) harbouring different combinations of tet(M) and tet(L) genes. The erm(B) or the aph(3')-IIIa gene were identified in most of our erythromycin- or kanamycin-resistant enterococci, respectively. This report suggests the role of red foxes from rural areas in the cycle of transmission and spread of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli and enterococci into the environment, representing a reservoir of these antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Center of Genomics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal; Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal; Center of Studies of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Vila Real, Portugal; Veterinary Science Department, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Hajer
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Radhouani
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Igrejas
authors.forename: Alexandre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Monteiro
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sargo
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Torres
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poeta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005589:Foxes / Q000382:microbiology*; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D005838:Genotype; D058889:Molecular Typing; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Enterococci; Escherichia coli; Phylogenetic groups; Red foxes; Virulence factors