Department of Animal Reproduction, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Veterinary Research Institute, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, 12622, Egypt.
BMC Genomics. 2023 Oct 12;24(1):610. doi: 10.1186/s12864-023-09708-4.
Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are among the most common causative pathogens for nosocomial infections worldwide. Moreover, strains of VRE have been isolated from several domestic livestock in Egypt.
This study examined if healthy dogs are a potential source of VRE infection by isolating and characterizing Enterococcus faecium strains from stool samples on a morphological basis and biochemical activities. Subsequently, it was confirmed by genotypic characterization using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), followed by the detection of antibiotic resistance genes, virulence determinants, and genes contributing to enterocin production by PCR. Furthermore, the phylogenetic relationships among vanB and tetL genes were analyzed.
All ten fecal samples were identified as E. faecium and confirmed by PCR. In addition, 90% of the isolates tested were positive for the virulence genes gelE and esp, and all the isolates tested were positive for the antibiotic resistance genes tetL and vanB. Only three of the five enterocin genes examined were detected. Ent As-48, bacteriocin 31, and Ent L50 were identified in 100%, 80%, and 60% of the samples, respectively.
Dogs should be regarded as a reservoir of E. faecium that carries vancomycin resistance and virulence determinants that may affect public health in Egypt, considering a "One Health" task force approach to restrict their spread.
耐万古霉素肠球菌（VRE）是全球医院感染最常见的病原体之一。此外，在埃及，已经从几种国内牲畜中分离出 VRE 菌株。
本研究通过基于形态学和生化活性从粪便样本中分离和鉴定屎肠球菌菌株，来研究健康犬是否是 VRE 感染的潜在来源。随后，通过聚合酶链反应（PCR）进行基因特征分析来确认，随后检测抗生素耐药基因、毒力决定因素和参与肠球菌素产生的基因。此外，还分析了 vanB 和 tetL 基因之间的系统发育关系。
所有 10 份粪便样本均被鉴定为屎肠球菌，并通过 PCR 得到确认。此外，90%的分离株检测到毒力基因 gelE 和 esp 为阳性，所有分离株均对 tetL 和 vanB 抗生素耐药基因呈阳性。仅检测到五个肠球菌素基因中的三个。Ent As-48、31 型细菌素和 Ent L50 在 100%、80%和 60%的样本中分别被检测到。
鉴于“同一健康”工作组方法来限制其传播，应将犬视为携带万古霉素耐药性和毒力决定因素的屎肠球菌的储主，这可能会影响埃及的公共卫生。
