title: Antimicrobial resistance and virulence profiles of Enterococcus spp. isolated from horses in korea.
abstract: Antimicrobial-resistant (AR) enterococci have emerged as leading nosocomial pathogens. Transmission of AR Enterococci from animals to humans has been demonstrated. However, there is limited information on the transmission of enterococci from horses to humans. To address this issue, we characterized 260 enterococci isolated from horse-associated samples in Korea in 2013 based on their AR profiles and virulence traits. AR profiling revealed an average ratio of AR enterococci of 23.8%. Seven isolates (2.7%) were multidrug-resistant Enterococcus faecalis. Most tetracycline-resistant enterococci harbored either tetM or tetL or both genes; genes conferring resistance to other antimicrobials were detected at low rates. Biofilm formation and gelatinase activity were observed in 51.1% and 47.7% of isolates, respectively; most were E. faecalis harboring the gelE gene. Evidence of transmission of AR enterococci between horses and their environments was provided by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and highlights the risk of AR enterococcus transmission to horse riders and handlers through close contact.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Dae Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon Soo
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Young Kyung
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science and Technology, College of Biotechnology and Natural Resource, Chung-Ang University, 2nd Campus, Anseong 456-756, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Animal and Plant Quarantine and Inspection Agency (QIA), Anyang 430-757, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Suk Kyung
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yong Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 151-742, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: magic007@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Kun Taek
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D018441:Biofilms; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial / Q000235:genetics; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000235:genetics; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000635:transmission; D006736:Horses / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D056910:Republic of Korea; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C094988:tetL protein, Enterococcus faecalis; D018093:Gelatinases
keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Cross-transmission; Enterococci; Horses; Virulence