Vancomycin-resistant enterococci isolates from the rumen content of deer

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Microbiology
• Antimicrobial Resistance
• Rumen Microbiology

Background:

• Enterococci are commensal bacteria found in animal gastrointestinal tracts.
• Antibiotic resistance in enterococci is a growing public health concern.
• Rumen microbiota plays a crucial role in animal digestion and health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enumerate and identify enterococci species in deer rumen.
• To determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance, particularly vancomycin resistance, in these enterococci.
• To investigate the metabolic properties of deer rumen enterococci.

Main Methods:

• Culture-based methods for enterococci isolation and enumeration from deer rumen contents.
• Phenotypic identification of enterococci species.
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, focusing on vancomycin resistance.
• Analysis of metabolic activities including lactic acid production and urease activity.

Main Results:

• Enterococci were detected at 2.0 x 10(2) CFU/ml in deer rumen.
• Identified species included Enterococcus casseliflavus (26.6%), E. gallinarum (26.6%), and E. faecium (6.6%).
• A high prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (60%) was observed, with 80% of strains being multiresistant.
• Most isolates produced lactic acid and exhibited medium urease activity.

Conclusions:

• Deer rumen harbors vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE).
• The identified VRE strains possess multiresistance and specific metabolic characteristics.
• These findings suggest VRE from deer could serve as potential indicators of fecal contamination.