Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess resistance and virulence of Enterococcus faecalis isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of dogs and cats, analyse their genotypic variability and estimate the correlation between the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance, virulence determinants and genotypic profiles. The susceptibility of E. faecalis to penicillin, ampicillin, vancomycin, erythromycin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, streptomycin and kanamycin was determined by the broth microdilution method. The isolates were tested for the presence of selected genes encoding resistance to macrolides, tetracyclines, aminoglycosides and glycopeptides as well as genes encoding virulence factors. Genotyping was performed using the ADSRRS-fingerprinting method. The highest percentage of resistant strains was observed in relation to erythromycin (96%), ciprofloxacin (93%) and tetracycline (82%). High percentage of strains resistant to high-level aminoglycosides was noted (kanamycin-33%, gentamicin-29%, streptomycin-24%), as well as multidrug-resistant (78%). The genotypic analysis of E. faecalis showed high heterogeneity of genotypic profiles (37) correlating with some resistance profiles. The most common virulence genes amongst E. faecalis were efaAfs (93%), cpd, ccf and cob (86%). The results of this study confirm that companion animals should be considered as a reservoir of E. faecalis carrying resistance and virulence determinants.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.