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Current microbiology2007; 55(3); 240-246; doi: 10.1007/s00284-007-0115-0

VanA-type vancomycin-resistant enterococci in equine and swine rectal swabs and in human clinical samples.

Abstract: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in healthy people and in food-producing animals seems to be quite common in Europe. The existence of this community reservoir of VRE has been associated with the massive use of avoparcin in animal husbandry. Eight years after the avoparcin ban in Europe, we investigated the incidence of VanA enterococci, their resistance patterns, and the mobility of their glycopeptide-resistance determinants in a sampling of animal rectal swabs and clinical specimens. A total of 259 enterococci isolated from equine, swine, and clinical samples were subcultured on KF-streptococcus agar (Difco Laboratories, Detroit, MI) supplemented with vancomycin and teicoplanin; 7 (6.7%), 10 (16%), and 8 (8.6%) respectively were found to be glycopeptides resistant (VanA phenotype). Slight differences in antimicrobial resistance patterns resulted among VRE recovered from the different sources. Polymerase chain reaction amplification demonstrated the presence of the vanA gene cluster and its extrachromosomal location in VRE plasmid DNA. VanA resistance was transferred in 7 out of 25 mating experiments, 4 with clinical, 2 with swine, and only 1 with equine donors. The conjugative plasmids of animal strains showed a high homology in the restriction profiles, unlike plasmids of clinical microrganisms. Our observations confirmed the possible horizontal transfer of VanA plasmids across different strains and, consequently, the diffusion of the vancomycin-resistance determinants.
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Publication Date: 2007-07-25 PubMed ID: 17657536DOI: 10.1007/s00284-007-0115-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This study investigated the prevalence and transmission of VanA-type vancomycin-resistant enterococci found in rectal swabs from horses and pigs, as well as in human clinical samples collected in Europe, many years after the ban on the antibiotic avoparcin in animal farming. These bacteria were found in significant numbers across all sample types, with resistance transfer observed in experimental mating trials, indicating the potential for wider spread of this resistance.

Study Context

  • The research was prompted by the widespread occurrence of Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in people and animals in Europe, with a particular focus on the potential impact of restricting avoparcin, an antibiotic widely used in animal farming.
  • VRE is considered problematic as it limits treatment options for serious infections. Thus, understanding its prevalence and the mechanisms of resistance is crucial.
  • The study specifically investigated the presence, resistance patterns, and potential for transmission of VanA enterococci, a key VRE strain.

Methodology

  • The study involved culturing 259 enterococci samples obtained from horse, pig, and human sources in a medium containing the antibiotics vancomycin and teicoplanin, both of which the bacteria should be resistant to.
  • Researchers then tested for the presence of the vanA gene cluster, known to confer resistance, via polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  • Furthermore, the researchers performed mating experiments to examine the potential for horizontal gene transfer, which could contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Findings

  • The researchers found a significant proportion of the samples were resistant to the glycopeptide antibiotics vancomycin and teicoplanin. VanA enterococci were confirmed in a proportion of samples from all sources, hinting at its broad presence in the community.
  • Differences were observed in the antimicrobial resistance patterns among VRE from different sources, pointing to a possible variation in the strains circulating among different populations.
  • The PCR amplification confirmed the presence of the vanA gene cluster, indicative of the bacteria’s resistance profile.
  • Transfer of resistance through mating experiments was observed in a fraction of trials, providing evidence for the potential horizontal transfer of resistance characteristics among VRE populations.
  • Plasmids from animal strains showed high similarity, contrary to those from human clinical samples, suggesting a shared origin or a common mechanism for acquiring resistance.

Implication

  • The findings indicated a persistent and potentially growing problem with VRE, even several years after steps to restrict antibiotic use in farming have been put in place.
  • This highlights the importance of continuous surveillance of antibiotic resistance in both human and animal populations, and the need for responsible antibiotic usage. If unchecked, this could create a reservoir of hard-to-treat infections in the community.

Cite This Article

APA
de Niederhäusern S, Sabia C, Messi P, Guerrieri E, Manicardi G, Bondi M. (2007). VanA-type vancomycin-resistant enterococci in equine and swine rectal swabs and in human clinical samples. Curr Microbiol, 55(3), 240-246. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-007-0115-0

Publication

Current microbiology
ISSN: 0343-8651
NlmUniqueID: 7808448
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 3
Pages: 240-246

Researcher Affiliations

de Niederhäusern, Simona
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio E., Via Campi 287, 41100, Modena, Italy.
Sabia, Carla
    Messi, Patrizia
      Guerrieri, Elisa
        Manicardi, Giuliano
          Bondi, Moreno

            MeSH Terms

            • Animals
            • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
            • Carbon-Oxygen Ligases / genetics
            • Enterococcus / drug effects
            • Enterococcus / genetics
            • Enterococcus / isolation & purification
            • Gene Transfer, Horizontal
            • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / microbiology
            • Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / veterinary
            • Horse Diseases / microbiology
            • Horses
            • Humans
            • Rectum / microbiology
            • Swine
            • Swine Diseases / microbiology
            • Urine / microbiology
            • Vancomycin Resistance / genetics
            • Wounds and Injuries / microbiology

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            Citations

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