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Meena B, Anburajan L, Sathish T, Raghavan RV, Jha DK, Venkateshwaran P, Das AK, Dheenan PS, Vinithkumar NV, Dharani G, Kirubagaran R. Enterococcus species diversity and molecular characterization of biomarker genes in Enterococcus faecalis in Port Blair Bay, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2015; 94:217-227. [PMID: 25798888 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Revised: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This study was performed to evaluate the abundance and diversity of Enterococcus sp. and the distribution of biomarker genes in Enterococcus faecalis in Port Blair Bay, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The Enterococcus sp. densities at the seven sampling stations were highly influenced by tidal fluctuations and season. The distributions and diversities of species varied in the inner and outer regions of Port Blair Bay. Among the 1816 total isolates, the occurrence of fecal Enterococcus was high (1.78×10(4) CFU/100 mL) in Phoenix Bay. Moreover, 67.76% of the isolates were identified as Enterococcus, and the most frequently identified species were E. hirae, E. avium and E. faecalis. Assessments of antibiotic resistance and biomarker genes revealed the maximum occurrence in the Aberdeen Bay isolates. The most prevalent biomarker genes observed in the E. faecalis isolates were gelE and asa1, whereas cyl was not found among the isolates. In silico sequence analysis of biomarker genes of E. faecalis also revealed that they are evolutionarily well conserved with those of earlier reports. Further, multivariate analysis distinguished the JB, PB and OS stations from the other stations according to distinctive microbial densities and compositions. In addition, the Shannon-Wiener diversity indices and box-whisker plots further facilitated and supported the multivariate results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balakrishnan Meena
- Andaman and Nicobar Centre for Ocean Science and Technology, Earth System Sciences Organization-National Institute of Ocean Technology (ESSO-NIOT), Port Blair 744 103, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
| | - Lawrance Anburajan
- Andaman and Nicobar Centre for Ocean Science and Technology, Earth System Sciences Organization-National Institute of Ocean Technology (ESSO-NIOT), Port Blair 744 103, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India.
| | - Thadikamala Sathish
- Andaman and Nicobar Centre for Ocean Science and Technology, Earth System Sciences Organization-National Institute of Ocean Technology (ESSO-NIOT), Port Blair 744 103, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
| | - Rangamaran Vijaya Raghavan
- Marine Biotechnology Division, Ocean Science and Technology for Islands Group, ESSO-NIOT, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, Chennai 600 100, India
| | - Dilip Kumar Jha
- Marine Biotechnology Division, Ocean Science and Technology for Islands Group, ESSO-NIOT, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, Chennai 600 100, India
| | - Pitchiah Venkateshwaran
- Andaman and Nicobar Centre for Ocean Science and Technology, Earth System Sciences Organization-National Institute of Ocean Technology (ESSO-NIOT), Port Blair 744 103, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
| | - Apurba Kumar Das
- Andaman and Nicobar Centre for Ocean Science and Technology, Earth System Sciences Organization-National Institute of Ocean Technology (ESSO-NIOT), Port Blair 744 103, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
| | - Palaiya Sukumaran Dheenan
- Andaman and Nicobar Centre for Ocean Science and Technology, Earth System Sciences Organization-National Institute of Ocean Technology (ESSO-NIOT), Port Blair 744 103, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
| | - Nambali Valsalan Vinithkumar
- Andaman and Nicobar Centre for Ocean Science and Technology, Earth System Sciences Organization-National Institute of Ocean Technology (ESSO-NIOT), Port Blair 744 103, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India
| | - Gopal Dharani
- Marine Biotechnology Division, Ocean Science and Technology for Islands Group, ESSO-NIOT, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, Chennai 600 100, India
| | - Ramalingam Kirubagaran
- Marine Biotechnology Division, Ocean Science and Technology for Islands Group, ESSO-NIOT, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Govt. of India, Chennai 600 100, India.
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Lee YD, Chun H, Park JH. Characteristics and growth inhibition of isolated bacteriophages for Enterococcus faecalis. Food Sci Biotechnol 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/s10068-014-0186-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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Performance and specificity of the covalently linked immunomagnetic separation-ATP method for rapid detection and enumeration of enterococci in coastal environments. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 80:2705-14. [PMID: 24561583 DOI: 10.1128/aem.04096-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The performance and specificity of the covalently linked immunomagnetic separation-ATP (Cov-IMS/ATP) method for the detection and enumeration of enterococci was evaluated in recreational waters. Cov-IMS/ATP performance was compared with standard methods: defined substrate technology (Enterolert; IDEXX Laboratories), membrane filtration (EPA Method 1600), and an Enterococcus-specific quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay (EPA Method A). We extend previous studies by (i) analyzing the stability of the relationship between the Cov-IMS/ATP method and culture-based methods at different field sites, (ii) evaluating specificity of the assay for seven ATCC Enterococcus species, (iii) identifying cross-reacting organisms binding the antibody-bead complexes with 16S rRNA gene sequencing and evaluating specificity of the assay to five nonenterococcus species, and (iv) conducting preliminary tests of preabsorption as a means of improving the assay. Cov-IMS/ATP was found to perform consistently and with strong agreement rates (based on exceedance/compliance with regulatory limits) of between 83% and 100% compared to the culture-based Enterolert method at a variety of sites with complex inputs. The Cov-IMS/ATP method is specific to five of seven different Enterococcus spp. tested. However, there is potential for nontarget bacteria to bind the antibody, which may be reduced by purification of the IgG serum with preabsorption at problematic sites. The findings of this study help to validate the Cov-IMS/ATP method, suggesting a predictable relationship between the Cov-IMS/ATP method and traditional culture-based methods, which will allow for more widespread application of this rapid and field-portable method for coastal water quality assessment.
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Comparison of Enterococcus species diversity in marine water and wastewater using Enterolert and EPA Method 1600. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2013; 2013:848049. [PMID: 23840233 PMCID: PMC3691910 DOI: 10.1155/2013/848049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2012] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
EPA Method 1600 and Enterolert are used interchangeably to measure Enterococcus for fecal contamination of public beaches, but the methods occasionally produce different results. Here we assess whether these differences are attributable to the selectivity for certain species within the Enterococcus group. Both methods were used to obtain 1279 isolates from 17 environmental samples, including influent and effluent of four wastewater treatment plants, ambient marine water from seven different beaches, and freshwater urban runoff from two stream systems. The isolates were identified to species level. Detection of non-Enterococcus species was slightly higher using Enterolert (8.4%) than for EPA Method 1600 (5.1%). E. faecalis and E. faecium, commonly associated with human fecal waste, were predominant in wastewater; however, Enterolert had greater selectivity for E. faecalis, which was also shown using a laboratory-created sample. The same species selectivity was not observed for most beach water and urban runoff samples. These samples had relatively higher proportions of plant associated species, E. casseliflavus (18.5%) and E. mundtii (5.7%), compared to wastewater, suggesting environmental inputs to beaches and runoff. The potential for species selectivity among water testing methods should be considered when assessing the sanitary quality of beaches so that public health warnings are based on indicators representative of fecal sources.
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Maheux AF, Huppé V, Bissonnette L, Boissinot M, Rodrigue L, Bérubé È, Bergeron MG. Comparative analysis of classical and molecular microbiology methods for the detection of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. in well water. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 14:2983-9. [PMID: 23014932 DOI: 10.1039/c2em30565h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The microbiological quality of 165 1 litre well water samples collected in the Québec City region was assessed by culture-based methods (mFC agar, Chromocult coliform agar, Colilert(®), MI agar, Chromocult enterococci, Enterolert™, and mEI agar) and by a molecular microbiology strategy, dubbed CRENAME-rtPCR, developed for the detection of Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Enterococcus faecalis/faecium, and Bacillus atrophaeus subsp. globigii. In these drinking water samples, approved culture-based methods detected E. coli at rates varying from 1.8 to 3.6% and Enterococcus spp. at rates varying from 3.0 to 11.5%, while the molecular microbiology approach for E. coli was found to be as efficient, detecting contamination in 3.0% of samples. In contrast, CRENAME-rtPCR detected Enterococcus spp. in 27.9% of samples while the E. faecalis/faecium molecular assay did not uncover a single contaminated sample, thereby revealing a discrepancy in the coverage of waterborne enterococcal species detected by classical and molecular microbiology methods. The validation of the CRENAME-E. coli rtPCR test as a new tool to assess the quality of drinking water will require larger scale studies elaborated to demonstrate its equivalence to approved methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrée F Maheux
- Centre de recherche en infectiologie de l'Université Laval, Centre de recherche du CHUQ, 2705 Laurier Blvd., Québec City, Québec, Canada G1V 4G2
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Martín B, Corominas L, Garriga M, Aymerich T. Identification and tracing ofEnterococcusspp. by RAPD-PCR in traditional fermented sausages and meat environment. J Appl Microbiol 2009; 106:66-77. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.03976.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Moore DF, Guzman JA, McGee C. Species distribution and antimicrobial resistance of enterococci isolated from surface and ocean water. J Appl Microbiol 2008; 105:1017-25. [PMID: 18422952 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.03828.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The species identification and antimicrobial resistance profiles were determined for enterococci isolated from Southern California surface and ocean waters. METHODS AND RESULTS Species identification was determined for 1413 presumptive Enterococcus isolates from urban runoff, bay, ocean and sewage water samples. The most frequently isolated species were Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus casseliflavus and Enterococcus mundtii. All five of these species were isolated from ocean and bay water with a frequency ranging from 7% to 36%. Enterococcus casseliflavus was the most frequently isolated species in urban runoff making up 36-65% of isolates while E. faecium was the most frequently isolated species in sewage making up 53-78% of isolates. The similar distribution of species in urban runoff and receiving water suggests that urban runoff may be the source of Enterococcus. No vancomycin or high level gentamycin resistance was detected in E. faecalis and E. faecium isolates. CONCLUSIONS Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium, E. casseliflavus and E. mundtii are the most commonly isolated Enterococcus species from urban runoff and receiving waters in Southern California. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Determination of the Enterococcus species isolated from receiving waters and potential pollution sources may assist in determining the sources of pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- D F Moore
- Orange County Public Health Laboratory, Santa Ana, CA, USA
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d'Azevedo PA, Dias CAG, Teixeira LM. Genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of enterococcal isolates from Southern region of Brazil. Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo 2006; 48:11-6. [PMID: 16547573 DOI: 10.1590/s0036-46652006000100003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present study, a total of 455 enterococcal isolates, recovered from patients living in the city of Porto Alegre, State of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, during the period from July 1996 to June 1997, were identified to the species level by conventional biochemical and microbiological tests, and assayed for their susceptibilities to antimicrobial agents. The genetic diversity of antimicrobial resistant strains was evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis of SmaI restricted chromosomal DNA. The most frequent species was Enterococcus faecalis (92.8%). Other species identified were: E. faecium (2.9%), E. gallinarum (1.5%), E. avium (1.1%), E. hirae (0.7%), E. casseliflavus (0.4%), E. durans (0.4%) and E. raffinosus (0.2%). The overall prevalence of isolates with high-level resistance (HLR) to aminoglycosides was 37.8%. HLR to gentamicin was found in 24.8%. No strains with acquired resistance to vancomycin were found. PFGE analysis showed the predominance of clonal group A, comprising strains isolated from different clinical specimens obtained from patients in three hospitals. These results suggest intra and inter-hospital dissemination of one predominant clonal group of E. faecalis isolates with HLR to gentamicin in the hospitals included in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Alves d'Azevedo
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Fundação Faculdade Federal de Ciências Médicas de Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
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OBAIDAT MOHAMMADM, FUNG DANIELY. COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF CLOSTRIDIUM PERFRINGENS, ESCHERICHIA COLI AND ENTEROCOCCI AS INDICATORS OF FECAL CONTAMINATION OF GROUND BEEF. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-4581.2005.00023.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Ferguson DM, Moore DF, Getrich MA, Zhowandai MH. Enumeration and speciation of enterococci found in marine and intertidal sediments and coastal water in southern California. J Appl Microbiol 2005; 99:598-608. [PMID: 16108802 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2005.02660.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To determine the levels and species distribution of enterococci in intertidal and marine sediments and coastal waters at two beaches frequently in violation of bacterial water standards. METHODS AND RESULTS Faecal indicator bacteria were extracted from sediment and enumerated using membrane filtration. High levels of enterococci were detected in intertidal sediments in a seasonal river and near a storm drain outlet. Low levels were found in marine sediments at 10 m depths and in surf zone sand. Bacterial isolates presumptively identified as Enterococcus on mEI media were speciated. The predominant species found in both water and sediment included Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus casseliflavus and Enterococcus mundtii. A number of isolates (11-26%) from regulatory water samples presumptively identified as enterococci on mEI media were subsequently identified as species other than Enterococcus. At both study sites, the distribution of species present in water was comparable with those in sediments and the distribution of species was similar in water samples passing and exceeding bacterial indicator standards. CONCLUSIONS High levels of Enterococcus in intertidal sediments indicate retention and possible regrowth in this environment. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Resuspension of enterococci that are persistent in sediments may cause beach water quality failures and calls into question the specificity of this indicator for determining recent faecal contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Ferguson
- Orange County Public Health Laboratory, 700 Shellmaker Road, Newport Beach, CA 92660, USA.
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Mondino SSB, Castro ACD, Mondino PJJ, Carvalho MDGS, Silva KMF, Teixeira LM. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of clinical and intestinal enterococci isolated from inpatients and outpatients in two Brazilian hospitals. Microb Drug Resist 2004; 9:167-74. [PMID: 12820802 DOI: 10.1089/107662903765826769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of clinical and intestinal enterococcal isolates recovered from inpatients and outpatients of two Brazilian hospitals, located in Niterói city, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were compared. A total of 601 strains were studied, including 253 isolated from different clinical sources and 348 intestinal strains (205 isolated from inpatients and 143 from outpatients) recovered from fecal specimens. Isolates were identified by using conventional physiological tests and evaluated for high-level resistance to aminoglycosides (HLR-A) and resistance to vancomycin and ampicillin by the agar screening technique. Susceptibility to several antimicrobial agents was evaluated by the disk diffusion method. The genetic diversity of Enterococcus faecalis strains presenting HLR-A was assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of chromosomal DNA after SmaI digestion. E. faecalis was the most frequent species among clinical isolates (90.1%) and intestinal strains from inpatients (53.6%). E. casseliflavus was the prevalent species among intestinal isolates from outpatients (35.0%). Clinical isolates were shown to be resistant to erythromycin (53.0%), tetracycline (52.2%), ciprofloxacin (36.4%), gentamicin (36.4%), streptomycin (30.4%), chloramphenicol (34.4%), norfloxacin (32.0%), imipenem (3.2%), and ampicillin (2.8%). Vancomycin resistance was only detected in intrinsic vancomycin-resistant enterococcal species. The overall prevalence of HLR-A was 52.2% among clinical isolates and 40.5% among intestinal strains. However, HLR-A was significantly more frequent among intestinal strains obtained from inpatients (56.6%) than among strains from outpatients (17.5%). Three major clonal groups were found among E. faecalis strains exhibiting HLR-GE or HLR-GE/ST (clonal groups GE-A and GE-B), and strains exhibiting HLR-ST (clonal group ST-A). HLR-A, particularly HLR-GE, was most frequently associated with enterococcal strains of nosocomial origin. Isolates included in the major clonal groups were recovered from clinical and intestinal sources from patients in both hospitals, indicating both intrahospital and interhospital spread of strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia S B Mondino
- Departamento de Microbiologia Médica, Instituto de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-590, Brazil
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Gelsomino R, Vancanneyt M, Cogan TM, Swings J. Effect of raw-milk cheese consumption on the enterococcal flora of human feces. Appl Environ Microbiol 2003; 69:312-9. [PMID: 12514010 PMCID: PMC152448 DOI: 10.1128/aem.69.1.312-319.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2002] [Accepted: 10/30/2002] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterococci are one of the major facultative anaerobic bacterial groups that reside in the human gastrointestinal tract. In the present study, the composition of the enterococcal fecal flora in three healthy humans was analyzed before, during, and after the daily consumption of approximately 125 g of a raw-milk Cheddar-type cheese containing 3.2 x 10(4) enterococci/g of cheese. Enterococcal counts ranged between 1.4 x 10(2) and 2.5 x 10(8) CFU/g of feces and differed from subject to subject and from week to week. The cheese contained mainly Enterococcus casseliflavus and a small population of Enterococcus faecalis. Clonal relationships were determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Before and after consumption of the cheese, samples from humans contained mainly Enterococcus faecium, with some of the clones being resident. During consumption of the cheese, one particular transient clone of E. faecalis, clone Fs2, which was present in small numbers in the cheese, largely dominated the feces. Two clones of E. casseliflavus from the cheese were also found in the feces of one of the subjects during cheese consumption. These results suggest that a clone need not be present in a food in high numbers to establish itself in the intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Gelsomino
- BCCM/LMG Bacteria Culture Collection, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
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Gelsomino R, Vancanneyt M, Cogan TM, Condon S, Swings J. Source of enterococci in a farmhouse raw-milk cheese. Appl Environ Microbiol 2002; 68:3560-5. [PMID: 12089042 PMCID: PMC126786 DOI: 10.1128/aem.68.7.3560-3565.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2001] [Accepted: 04/10/2002] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterococci are widely distributed in raw-milk cheeses and are generally thought to positively affect flavor development. Their natural habitats are the human and animal intestinal tracts, but they are also found in soil, on plants, and in the intestines of insects and birds. The source of enterococci in raw-milk cheese is unknown. In the present study, an epidemiological approach with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to type 646 Enterococcus strains which were isolated from a Cheddar-type cheese, the milk it was made from, the feces of cows and humans associated with the cheese-making unit, and the environment, including the milking equipment, the water used on the farm, and the cows' teats. Nine different PFGE patterns, three of Enterococcus casseliflavus, five of Enterococcus faecalis, and one of Enterococcus durans, were found. The same three clones, one of E. faecalis and two of E. casseliflavus, dominated almost all of the milk, cheese, and human fecal samples. The two E. casseliflavus clones were also found in the bulk tank and the milking machine even after chlorination, suggesting that a niche where enterococci could grow was present and that contamination with enterococci begins with the milking equipment. It is likely but unproven that the enterococci present in the human feces are due to consumption of the cheese. Cow feces were not considered the source of enterococci in the cheese, as Enterococcus faecium and Streptococcus bovis, which largely dominated the cows' intestinal tracts, were not found in either the milk or the cheese.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Gelsomino
- National Dairy Products Research Centre, Teagasc, Fermoy, County Cork, Ireland.
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Gelsomino R, Vancanneyt M, Condon S, Swings J, Cogan TM. Enterococcal diversity in the environment of an Irish Cheddar-type cheesemaking factory. Int J Food Microbiol 2001; 71:177-88. [PMID: 11789936 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-1605(01)00620-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Enterococci are natural residents of human and animal intestinal tracts and grow to high levels in a variety of artisanal cheeses. The aim of this study was to determine the diversity of enterococci in a farmhouse raw-milk cheese production unit. Putative enterococci were isolated from the faeces of all the cows and all the people associated with the cheesemaking, from the milk and cheese during manufacture and ripening and from the environment in three separate trials. Almost 1400 isolates were screened using a genus-specific primer. The results indicated that all the human, milk, curd and cheese isolates but only 33.7%, 6.7% and 4.4% of the bovine isolates from the three trials, respectively, were members of the genus Enterococcus. RAPD-PCR was used to type the enterococcal isolates. In general, only E. faecium was found in the bovine faeces while E. casseliflavus dominated the human faeces, milk and cheese followed by lower numbers of E. faecalis. Environmental sampling of the water in the milking parlour and rinses of the cows' teats, the bulk-milk storage tank and the milking machine corroborated these results as E. casseliflavus and E. faecalis were the only Enterococcus species found in these samples. The putative vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), isolated in Trial 1, were shown to be Pediococcus spp. by genotypic and phenotypic analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Gelsomino
- Dairy Products Research Centre, Fermoy, Co. Cork, Ireland
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Tejedor Junco MT, González Martín M, Pita Toledo ML, Lupiola Gómez P, Martín Barrasa JL. Identification and antibiotic resistance of faecal enterococci isolated from water samples. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2001; 203:363-8. [PMID: 11434216 DOI: 10.1078/1438-4639-00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
We have isolated 47 strains of presumptive faecal streptococci from different water samples. Identification was made by the method of Facklam et al. (1989). Antibiotic resistance was studied on Mueller-Hinton Agar. Twelve antibiotics were tested. High-level aminoglycoside resistance (HLAR) and resistance to glycopeptides were studied. Biochemical identification of presumptive faecal streptococci isolates gave the following results: 19 Enterococcus faecalis, 12 E. faecium, 8 E. hirae, 4 E. durans and 4 E. mundtii. E. mundtii is not included among faecal enterococci. None of the strains were resistant to glycopeptides (vancomycin and teicoplanin). Three strains of Enterococci showed HLAR. Two of them were isolated from coastal bathing waters and the other from wastewater. This suggests that water could contribute to spread of HLAR enterococci and it should be a matter of concern for public health authorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T Tejedor Junco
- Dpto. Microbiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, P.O. BOX 550, ES-35080, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Canary Islands, Spain.
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Tavares W. [Problems with gram-positive bacteria: resistance in staphylococci, enterococci, and pneumococci to antimicrobial drugs]. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2000; 33:281-301. [PMID: 10967598 DOI: 10.1590/s0037-86822000000300008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The resistance in staphylococci, enterococci, and pneumococci is reviewed. The author also recalls the first cases, and presents an overview of the distribution of cases in the world, the genetic and molecular mechanisms of resistance, the importance in Brazil and therapeutic alternatives. The factors that contribute to the dissemination of these problem bacteria and the measures for their control are emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Tavares
- Faculdade de Medicina de Teresópolis, Escola de Ciências Médicas de Volta Redonda, RJ, Brasil
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Zanella RC, Valdetaro F, Lovgren M, Tyrrel GJ, Bokermann S, Almeida SC, Vieira VS, Brandileone MC. First confirmed case of a vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium with vanA phenotype from Brazil: isolation from a meningitis case in São Paulo. Microb Drug Resist 2000; 5:159-62. [PMID: 10432277 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.1999.5.159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of enterococci as a nosocomial etiologic agent is well documented; however, enterococci are also capable of causing a variety of community-acquired infections. Vancomycin resistance in a clinical Enterococcus isolate was first reported in 1986, and since then vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have been reported world-wide. This report describes a case of E. faecium with the VanA phenotype, isolated from meningitis in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Two E. faecium strains were isolated. One strain showed VanA phenotype, and the molecular characterization of the VanA gene was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The other strain was susceptible to vancomycin and teicoplanin. The authors would like to call the attention of the scientific community to this first identification of a VRE case in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- R C Zanella
- Seção de Bacteriologia, Adolfe Lutz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
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Park YJ, Oh EJ, Kim BK, Kim SM, Shim SI. Phenotypic characteristics of Enterococcus faecium variants confirmed by intergenic ribosomal polymerase chain reaction and E. faecium polymerase chain reaction. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 1999; 34:269-73. [PMID: 10459476 DOI: 10.1016/s0732-8893(99)00041-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Enterococcus faecium has recently emerged as a serious nosocomial pathogen. The emergence of multiple antimicrobial agent-resistant E. faecium has been remarkable; with its strains it is one of the most phenotypically heterogeneous of all enterococcal species. About 15% of enterococcal strains isolated from human clinical specimens were found to have atypical biochemical characteristics. In order to determine if these strains were E. faecium variants, intergenic ribosomal polymerase chain reaction (ITS-PCR) and E. faecium PCR (EfPCR) were performed in 45 atypical strains, and the two PCR results were used to analyze phenotypic characteristics of the strains. As many as 60% (27/45) of the atypical strains were identified as E. faecium. Thus, it is concluded that if an enterococcal strain shows positive reaction to arabinose, arginine, and ribose and negative reaction to methyl-alpha-D-glucopyranoside and pigment, it should be identified as E. faecium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y J Park
- Department of Clinical Pathology, College of Medicine, Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
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Merquior VL, Netz DJ, Camello TC, Teixeira LM. Characterization of enterococci isolated from nosocomial and community infections in Brazil. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 1997; 418:281-3. [PMID: 9331653 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4899-1825-3_69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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Teixeira LM, Facklam RR, Steigerwalt AG, Pigott NE, Merquior VL, Brenner DJ. Correlation between phenotypic characteristics and DNA relatedness within Enterococcus faecium strains. J Clin Microbiol 1995; 33:1520-3. [PMID: 7650178 PMCID: PMC228207 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.33.6.1520-1523.1995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
We noted that a number of enterococcal strains isolated from human clinical specimens resembled Enterococcus faecium but were able to produce acid from glycerol, raffinose, and/or sorbitol, while others failed to form acid from mannitol. An additional concern was that many of these strains with atypical phenotypic characteristics also appeared to acquire vancomycin resistance. In order to determine if such atypical strains were variants of E. faecium or new Enterococcus species, 35 E. faecium or E. faecium-like strains (grouped into 10 phenotypes on the basis of the results of the following tests: capacity to form acid from glycerol, mannitol, raffinose, or sorbitol and susceptibility to vancomycin) and four strains of Enterococcus faecalis were taken from our culture collection, analyzed for their whole-cell protein profiles by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and identified to the species level by DNA-DNA reassociation experiments. All E. faecium-like strains, including four mannitol-negative variants, conformed to at least two of three DNA-DNA relatedness criteria: they were 70% or more related to the type strain of E. faecium at optimal conditions, they had less than 5% divergence within the related sequences, and they had a relatedness of 60% or greater under stringent conditions. The protein profiles of atypical strains were similar to those of typical strains and were easily distinguishable from those of E. faecalis and other enterococcal species. The five E. faecalis strains were 12 to 16% related to the E. faecium type strain. These results indicate that the phenotypic description of E. faecium should include all of these variable characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M Teixeira
- Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA
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