Genetic characterization of vancomycin-resistant enterococci isolates from wild rabbits
✍ Scribed by Nicholas Figueiredo; Hajer Radhouani; Alexandre Gonçalves; Jorge Rodrigues; Carlos Carvalho; Gilberto Igrejas; Patrícia Poeta
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 2009
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 78 KB
- Volume
- 49
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0233-111X
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✦ Synopsis
Abstract
The presence of van A‐containing E. faecium isolates was demonstrated in three of 77 faecal samples (3.9%) of wild rabbits recovered in Portugal. Enterococcal strains with intrinsic vancomycin resistance (van C‐1 or van C‐2/3 gene) were found in five (6.5%) and three (3.9%) faecal samples, respectively. The mechanisms of resistance for other antibiotics were studied in these vancomycin‐resistant isolates. All van A strains showed resistance for tetracycline [with the presence of tet (L) gene, associated or not with tet (M) gene] and for erythromycin [with the presence of the erm (B) gene]. Two isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin and one to ampicillin. Two van C‐1 strains and one van C‐2/3 strain were tetracycline resistant [containing the tet (M) gene associated with tet (L) gene] and erythromycin resistant [with erm (B) gene]. Two van C‐1 and two van C‐2/3 strains were also ciprofloxacin resistant and one van C‐1 strain was, additionally, resistant to quinupristin‐dalfopristin. The two remaining isolates (van C‐1, van C‐2/3) did not show resistance for any additional antibiotic. The intestinal tract of wild rabbits could be a reservoir of van A‐containing enterococci. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)