Enterococcus species are found in faeces of mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, but also soil, plants and water. These bacteria can also be isolated from animal products such as milk, cheese and meat. This study was aimed at isolating Enterococcus species from communal and commercial cattle faecal and water samples. A further objective was to determine the antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolates as well as some of the potential factors and mechanisms that could be responsible for their resistance to antibiotics. A total of 79 cattle faecal and water samples were collected from the communal and commercial farms. Sixty-five faecal samples were collected from commercial (33 healthy and 16 diarrhoeal cattle) and communal (16 healthy cattle) farms. Twelve water samples were collected from the commercial farms and 2 from the communal farm. From all the samples collected, 129 Enterococcus isolates were identified. Isolates, which included Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium), Enterococcus avium (E. avium), Enterococcus durans (E. durans) and Streptococcus bovis I (Sc. bovis !), were isolated from bovine faeces and water samples, while E. avium was only isolated from water at the communal farm. Furthermore, isolates from the healthy and diarrhoeal commercial cattle included E. faecium, E. avium, E. durans and Sc. bovis I. E. faecium and E. avium species were also isolated from the commercial farm cattle water sources. However, E. faecium was the predominant species in communal cattle faecal and water samples. On the other hand, E. avium was dominant in. commercial cattle faecal and water samples. Multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) was observed in enterococci from all samples at both farm types. The predominant MAR phenotype that was prevalent in all enterococci species was GENSMX- NAL-NIT-KAN-STR All isolates showed an MAR index above 0.2 (water; 0.58 to 0.68 and faeces; 0.6 to l. 7). Cluster analysis based on antibiotic inhibition zone diameter data, resulted in dendrograms that showed a similar relationship of Enterococcus isolates from the two farms. Between 13% and 50% of Enterococcus isolates from cattle faeces and water samples from communal and commercial farms were resistant to vancomycin and oxytetracycline. In general, 11% of all the Enterococcus isolates from the cattle faeces was resistant to vancomycin. Thirty one per cent of the isolates from cattle water sources were resistant to both drugs. Vancomycin Resistant Enterococcus (VRE) genes conveying the vanC phenotype were obtained from E. durans and E. avium. This was an unexpected result. The tet A, tet Band tet C genes were not obtained from any of the Enterococcus species. Further studies on antibiotic resistance should be undertaken especially in rural areas, where farmers could be using over-the-counter medicines such as tetracycline even when it is not necessary. It was speculated in this study that there could be a development of potential reservoirs of antibiotic resistance in farmlands. In order to prevent the distribution of MAR organisms or their transferable resistance genes, a sensible use of antibiotics is necessary in veterinary medicine, animal husbandry and human medicine. / MSc. (Agriculture) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2006

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-13T14:50:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2014-02-19Bitstream added on 2014-08-13T17:59:55Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000768735.pdf: 1378869 bytes, checksum: 208d6f9ea0a8b866c4aaf52ade9bcdc9 (MD5) / Staphylococcus aureus se destaca por sua patogenicidade e alta frequência, permitindo que este agente seja capaz de produzir doenças tanto em indivíduos sadios quanto em imunocomprometidos por sua fácil disseminação. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar a distribuição de clones de S. aureus sensíveis e resistentes à meticilina (MSSA/MRSA) em 50 isolados provenientes de pacientes com infecções de pele da Seção de Dermatologia do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina (FMB) de Botucatu, 50 isolados de idosos de Instituições de Longa Permanência (ILP) de Bauru e 50 isolados provenientes de detentos do Centro de Ressocialização (CR) de Avaré. Os isolados de S. aureus foram submetidos à técnica de E-test para determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM). Para determinação do perfil de virulência e resistência à oxacilina nos 150 isolados de S. aureus foram realizadas reações em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) para a detecção dos genes mecA, cassete cromossômico estafilocócio mec (SCCmec), genes codificadores das enterotoxinas (sea, seb e sec-1), toxinas esfoliativas A e B (eta e etb), toxina 1 da síndrome do choque tóxico (tst), leucocidina de Panton-Valentine (lukS-PV e lukF-PV), hemolisinas alfa e delta (hla e hld) e biofilme (icaA e icaD). O perfil clonal dos isolados MSSA e MRSA foi caracterizado por Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), e os clones de MRSA foram submetidos a tipagem molecular por Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) e spa typing. Os resultados revelaram maior prevalência de MRSA nas instituições de longa permanência, além de apresentarem CIM90 64μg/mL para oxacilina e CIM90 > 256 μg/mL para clindamicina. Das 150 amostras de S.aureus ... / Staphylococcus aureus is distinguished by its high pathogenicity and frequency, allowing that this agent is capable of producing diseases in both healthy individuals and immunocompromised due to its easy dissemination. The aim of this work was to characterize the distribution of clones of S. aureus sensitive and resistant (MSSA/MRSA) in 50 isolates from patients with skin infections of Section of Dermatology of the University Hospital of the Botucatu Medical School Hospital of the (FMB), 50 isolates of elderly residents of nursing homes of Bauru and 50 isolates from inmates of Detention Center of Avare. The isolates of S. aureus were subjected to the technique of E-test for determination of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). To determine the virulence profile and oxacillin resistance in 150 isolates of S. aureus was used Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for the detection of mecA gene, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), genes encoding enterotoxins (sea, seb and sec-1), exfoliative toxins A and B (eta e etb), toxic shock syndrome toxin 1 (tst), Panton-Valentine leukocidin (lukS-PV and lukF-PV), alpha and delta hemolysin (hla and hld) and biofilm (icaA and icaD). The clonal profile of MRSA and MSSA isolates were characterized by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE), and MRSA clones were subjected to molecular typing Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) and spa typing. The results revealed a higher prevalence of MRSA in institutional settings, besides having MIC90 64μg/mL for oxacillin and MIC90 > 256 mg/mL for clindamycin. Of the 150 samples of S. aureus studied, 20 (13.3%) were mecA carriers, being detected seven isolates harboring SCCmec type IV nine carrying the SCCmec type II, only one isolate carrying the SCCmec type I and 3 isolates were not typed by the protocol used. Among the virulence factors, enterotoxin A was the most prevalent in all sources. Is important to note, 10% of isolates from Center Resocialization ...