Molecular characterization of vanA-containing Enterococcus from migratory birds: song thrush (Turdus philomelos)

Abstract

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were detected in two faecal samples (1.3%) of song thrush in Portugal. vanA isolates showed high level vancomycin/teicoplanin resistance, as well as resistance to ciprofloxacin, quinupristin-dalfopristin and cloranfenicol. Thrush can be a reservoir of VRE and transmit these resistant bacteria to other animals including humans.

Characterization of fecal vancomycin-resistant enterococci with acquired and intrinsic resistance mechanisms in wild animals, Spain

“…The presence of vanA in other wild mammals, such as woodmice (Apodemus sylvaticus), black rats (Rattus rattus), or badgers (Meles meles), has been previously reported [13,25]. This gene has also been identified in wild birds and amphibians [26][27][28][29][30][31]. Resistance mediated by vanA is characterized by high levels of resistance to glycopeptides; our isolate showed a high MIC value to vancomycin (>256 μg/mL) and teicoplanin (128 μg/mL).…”

Detection of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis ST6-vanB2 and E. faecium ST915-vanA in faecal samples of wild Rattus rattus in Spain

“…in wild animals in percentages very variable (0-13.5%) Mallon et al, 2002;Oravcova et al, 2013Oravcova et al, , 2014Poeta et al, 2007;Radhouani et al, 2010Radhouani et al, , 2011Radhouani et al, , 2012Santos et al, 2013;Silva et al, 2011Silva et al, , 2012. The vanA gene has been detected in these studies in E. faecalis, E. faecium, E. hirae, and E. durans (Oravcova et al, 2014;Silva et al, 2011Silva et al, , 2012, being vanA-containing E. faecium the most frequent (Oravcova et al, 2013;Radhouani et al, 2010;Silva et al, 2011Silva et al, , 2012.…”

“…However, the problem persists and several hypotheses point out that the co-selection phenomenon could be one of the causes (Aarestrup, 2000;Hammerum, 2012). Moreover, vanA containing enterococci have been also described in different wild animal species such as woodmice, badgers, crows, wild boars, seagulls, and song thrush (Mallon et al, 2002;Oravcova et al, 2014;Poeta et al, 2007;Radhouani et al, 2010Radhouani et al, , 2011Silva et al, 2012), but never before in Spain.…”

Potential impact of antimicrobial resistance in wildlife, environment and human health

“…Within the heterogeneous class of birds, two groups seem to be in the focus of ESBL- E. coli and VRE carriage in wildlife: birds of prey (Costa et al, 2006; Pinto et al, 2010; Radhouani et al, 2010a,b; Silva et al, 2011a) and waterfowl/water related species (Poeta et al, 2008; Bonnedahl et al, 2009; Dolejska et al, 2009; Guenther et al, 2010a; Hernandez et al, 2010; Literak et al, 2010a; Radhouani et al, 2010c; Simões et al, 2010; Garmyn et al, 2011). However, recent studies in Passeriformes have also described a significant incidence of VRE (Silva et al, 2011a, 2012; Oravcova et al, 2013a,b). …”