Antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterococcus spp. isolated from freshwater fish and personnel and equipment of fish markets in northern Greece

Abstract

In total, 270 samples from freshwater fish and personnel and equipment from retail fish markets in three cities in northern Greece, were examined for presence of antimicrobial resistance and biogenic amine production of Enterococcus spp. strains. Enterococci were isolated from 9.6% of the samples; from 7.4% and 2.2%, respectively, Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus casseliflavus were recovered. Isolates were tested for antibacterial susceptibility to 20 antibiotics used regularly in Greek hospitals. All isolates except one were multi drug resistant, to 7-15 antibiotics. Increased rates of resistance were recorded to penicillin, cephalosporins and erythromycin. Relatively increased rates were recoreded to quinupristin/casdalfopristin and linezolid, drugs commonly used as treatment options of infections by vancomycin-resistant enterococci. One E. faecium and one E. casseliflavus isolate showed intermediate resistance to vancomycin. Multiplex PCR assay for presence of van genes in E. faecium was negative. All E. faecium isolates and one third of E. casseliflavus isolates were able to decarboxylate tyrosine, but not histidine, ornithine or lysine. The results indicate that freshwater fish and fish markets are potential reservoirs of multi-drug resistant enterococci.

Prevalence, Antimicrobial Susceptibility, and Virulence Gene Profile of Enterococcus Species isolated from Some Farmed Fish Retailed in Zagazig City, Egypt

“…As well , the obtained results were in agreement with those displayed in Bangladesh by Rahman et al [40] who detected Enterococcus isolates from fresh water fish, exhibiting resistance to ampicillin and erythromycin, however, these isolates revealed variable levels of susceptibility to gentamycin and vancomycin. Moreover, in corroboration with the present study, Sergelidis et al [41] [44], which was done on marine water fish in Tunisia.…”

Molecular characterization and antimicrobial resistance of Enterococcus faecalis isolated from seafood samples

“…Sergelidis et al. (2013) stated that Enterococcus isolates of fish and fish market samples harbored the high resistance rate towards cephalosporins, penicillins, and erythromycin antimicrobial agents. Karimian et al.…”

“…Irregular and unauthorized prescription of antimicrobial agents is the probable reason for the high resistance rate.As some isolates harbored a high resistance towards human-based antimicrobial agents (those are basically used to treat human infectious diseases), it can be indirectly concluded that these isolates originated from infected staffs of seafood sales and processing centres(Ranjbar et al, 2019). The high resistance rate of E. faecalis strains isolated from food samples towards oxacillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, cefoxitin, cefazolin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, rifampin, clindamycin, and gentamicin antimicrobial agents was reported from Switzerland(Boss et al, 2016), Turkey(Sanlibaba et al, 2018), Slo-F I G U R E 2 Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) gel electrophoresis of E. faecalis isolates in the RAPD analysis vakia(Kročko et al, 2011), Africa(Olawale et al, 2015), Poland(Cybulska & Krzyśko-ŁUpicka, 2020), and South Korea(Kim et al, 2021) Sergelidis et al (2013). stated that Enterococcus isolates of fish and fish market samples harbored the high resistance rate towards cephalosporins, penicillins, and erythromycin antimicrobial agents.…”

Isolation, Identification, Molecular, and Histopathological Investigations of Two Pathogenic Enterococcus Species From Tilapia in Egyptian Farms

“…The result of biochemical identification applied by Automated identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing of suspected isolates showed two subspecies of Enterococci: E. faecium and E. faecalis. Sergelidis et al (15) were identified their isolates depending on biochemical characterization by semi-automated system WIDER (Francisco Soria Melguizo, Madrid, Spain) using the Gram positive minimal inhibitory concentration/identification panels, which was nearby method to that used in our experiment. Also, Arumugam et al (1) documented biochemical characterization of E. faecalis included Gram strain, catalase test, and growth at 6.5% NaCl/ 45°C, using Rapid HiStrepTM biochemical test kit specific for Streptococcus species.…”

“…Several Enterococcus species have been implicated in disease outbreaks in aquaculture facilities worldwide, including Egypt (11,12,13). E. faecium and E. faecalis are the most frequently encountered enterococcal species (14,15).…”