title: Characteristic and susceptibility to enterocins of enterococci in pheasants possessing virulence factor genes.
abstract: With an increasing number of pheasants as gamebirds being reared each year, these species are becoming a more prominent part of the workload of many veterinary practices. Only limited information can be found concerning the microflora of common pheasants. A significant part of the obligate microflora consists of lactic acid bacteria, including enterococci. In this study, faeces were sampled from 60 pheasants aged 16-17 weeks. Enterococcal counts reached 5.48±1.9 (log10) CFU/g. Strains (17) were taxonomically classified to the genus Enterococcus using the Maldi-Tof identification system; they were allotted to the species E. hirae (58.8%), E. faecium (23.5%) and E. faecalis (17.7%) by highly probable species identification or by secure genus identification/probable species identication. Species allocation was also confirmed using conventional biochemical tests. Most strains formed β-hemolysis. Gelatinase active phenotype was found in three E. faecalis strains. Enterococci were β-glucuronidase negative, mostly trypsin negative with slight or moderate production of α-chymotrypsin. EH52b and EF42 strains possessed the highest potential for pathogenicity. Average value of lactic acid was 1.78±0.33 mmo/L. Most strains were tetracycline resistant (82.4%). Polyresistant E. faecalis strains with positive gelatinase phenotype and possessing virulence factor genes confirmed using PCR (gelE, efaAfs, ccf cob, cpd) were sensitive to enterocins (activity 1600-25,600 AU/mL).
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kandričáková
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lauková
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Strompfová
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D046094:Galliformes; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects*; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001952:Bridged-Ring Compounds; D037521:Virulence Factors; C012306:enterocin