Distribution of species and antimicrobial resistance among enterococci isolated from the fecal microbiota of captive blue-fronted parrot (Amazona aestiva) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

摘要

AbstractEnterococcal strains recovered from fecal samples of captive blue-fronted parrots (Amazona aestiva) assisted at two wild animal screening centers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were identified asEnterococcus hirae(the predominant species; 75.3%), followed byEnterococcus faecalis(17.3%),Enterococcus casseliflavus(4.8%),Enterococcus gallinarum(1.7%), andEnterococcus hermanniensis(0.9%). All strains were susceptible to linezolid and teicoplanin. Rates of nonsusceptibility (including resistant and intermediate categories) to other 16 antimicrobials tested varied from 69.3% to 0.4%, A considerable proportion (48.0%) of the strains was multidrug-resistant and diverse genetic determinants associated with antimicrobial resistance were identified. Tetracycline-resistant strains carried thetet(M) and/ortet(L) genes. Macrolides resistance was associated with theerm(B),erm(A) andmefA genes, while 43.2% of the isolates were negative for the investigated genes. High-level resistance to gentamicin associated with theaac(6′)-le-aph(2″)-lagene was detected in oneE.faecalisstrain. The two strains presenting high-level resistance to streptomycin were negative for theant(6′)-Ia,ant(3′)-Ia,ant(9′)-Iaandant(9′)-Ibgenes. Thevat(D) gene was found in all the 47 quinupristin/dalfopristin resistant strains identified as non-E.faecalis. Analysis of PFGE profiles ofE.hiraestrains after restriction withSmaI demonstrated the occurrence of five clonal groups. The predominantE.hiraeclone was distributed among birds in the two institutions, suggesting that this clone was well adapted to the host and environments investigated. The four clonal groups identified amongE.faecaliswere composed by small numbers of strains and, generally, restricted to birds in the same sector. The occurrence of enterococcal strains exhibiting antimicrobial resistance traits and carrying genetic determinants that represent potential threats to the health of both humans and animals, in the intestinal microbiota ofA.aestiva, highlights the need for additional monitoring studies to elucidate the population structure and the dynamics of transmission of these microorganisms among animals, humans and the environment.Graphical abstractDisplay OmittedHighlights•Five enterococcal species were recovered from the fecal microbiota of captiveAmazona aestiva.•A major clonal group was identified amongEnterococcus hirae, the predominant species.•A considerable proportion (48.0%) of the bacterial strains was multidrug-resistant.•A diversity of antimicrobial resistance genes was detected.