Does Bovine Raw Milk Represent a Potential Risk for Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Transmission to Humans?

: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are significant nosocomial pathogens worldwide, potentially transmitted by food-producing animals and related products. This study investigates the epidemiological role of bovine raw milk in the transmission of VRE to humans. : Bulk milk samples were screened for gene presence using a multiplex PCR. Mastitogenic enterococci isolated from individual milk samples were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using the broth microdilution method. Strains not susceptible to vancomycin were whole genome sequenced. : Overall, genes were detected in 299/1026 (29.14%) bulk milk samples. Specifically, was found in 204 samples (19.88%) and in 57 samples (5.56%), with both detected simultaneously in 38 samples (3.70%). Clinically significant and genes were not identified. A total of 163 mastitogenic strains were isolated from individual milk samples. Eight different species were detected, with (104/163, 63.80%) and (34/163, 20.86%) being the most common. Multidrug resistance was observed in 106/163 (65.03%) isolates. The most common resistance frequencies were to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin (102/163, 62.58% both), followed by quinupristin/dalfopristin (93/163, 57.06%), linezolid (65/163, 39.88%), tetracycline (58/163, 35.58%), daptomycin (46/163, 28.22%), chloramphenicol (33/163, 20.25%), ampicillin, tigecycline, and high-dosage gentamycin (8/163, 4.91% all). Resistance to teicoplanin was not observed. Two vancomycin non-susceptible strains were identified: one and one . Whole genome sequencing confirmed the presence of the complete gene cluster and several virulence genes in both strains. : Our findings suggest that while raw milk is unlikely to be a source of vancomycin resistance genes of highest clinical importance ( or ), it may contribute to the spread of enterococci, which are increasingly associated with human infections.