title: Antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in enterococci from wild game meat in Spain.
abstract: A total of 55 enterococci (45 Enterococcus faecium, 7 Enterococcus faecalis, and three Enterococcus durans) isolated from the meat of wild game animals (roe deer, boar, rabbit, pheasant, and pigeon) in North-Western Spain were tested for susceptibility to 14 antimicrobials by the disc diffusion method. All strains showed a multi-resistant phenotype (resistance to between three and 10 antimicrobials). The strains exhibited high percentages of resistance to erythromycin (89.1%), tetracycline (67.3%), ciprofloxacin (92.7%), nitrofurantoin (67.3%), and quinupristin-dalfopristin (81.8%). The lowest values (9.1%) were observed for high-level resistance to gentamicin, kanamycin, and streptomycin. The average number of resistances per strain was 5.8 for E. faecium isolates, 7.9 for E. faecalis, and 5.7 for E. durans. Genes encoding antimicrobial resistance and virulence were studied by polymerase chain reaction. A total of 15 (57.7%) of the 26 vancomycin-resistant isolates harboured the vanA gene. Other resistance genes detected included vanB, erm(B) and/or erm(C), tet(L) and/or tet(M), acc(6')-aph(2″), and aph(3')-IIIa in strains resistant to vancomycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, gentamicin, and kanamycin, respectively. Specific genes of the Tn5397 transposon were detected in 54.8% of the tet(M)-positive enterococci. Nine virulence factors (gelE, agg, ace, cpd, frs, esp, hyl, efaAfs and efaAfm) were studied. All virulence genes, with the exception of the frs gene, were found to be present in the enterococcal isolates. At least one virulence gene was detected in 20.0% of E. faecium, 71.4% of E. faecalis and 33.3% of E. durans isolates, with ace and cpd being the most frequently detected genes (6 isolates each). This suggests that wild game meat might play a role in the spreading through the food chain of enterococci with antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants to humans.
authors.affiliation: Ministry of Health, Regional Government of Castilla y León, E-47071, Valladolid, Spain.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guerrero-Ramos
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Food Technology, Veterinary Faculty, University of León, E-24071, León, Spain.
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cordero
authors.affiliation: Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of León, E-24007, León, Spain.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Molina-González
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-911, Vila Real, Portugal; Centre for Animal and Veterinary Science, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-911, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poeta
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-911, Vila Real, Portugal; Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre for Genomics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-911, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Igrejas
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Food Technology, Veterinary Faculty, University of León, E-24071, León, Spain; Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of León, E-24007, León, Spain.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alonso-Calleja
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Food Technology, Veterinary Faculty, University of León, E-24071, León, Spain; Institute of Food Science and Technology, University of León, E-24007, León, Spain. Electronic address: rosa.capita@unileon.es.
authors.forename: Rosa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Capita
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000382:microbiology*; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010856:Columbidae / Q000382:microbiology; D003670:Deer / Q000382:microbiology; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D011817:Rabbits / Q000382:microbiology; D013030:Spain; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: Antibiotic resistance genes; Enterococcus; Game meat; Spain; Virulence genes