Isolation and identification of Enterococcus faecalis with vancomycin resistance genes from Ghalerudkhan River, Iran, 2022

Subject Areas : Biotechnological Journal of Environmental Microbiology

Ouria Rezapour ¹ , Khosro Issazadeh ² , Mohammad Faezi Ghasemi ³

1 - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran
2 - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran
3 - Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Lahijan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Lahijan, Iran

Received: 2023-12-31 Accepted : 2024-01-29 Published : 2024-02-03

Keywords: Enterococcus faecalis, Antibiotic resistance, VRE, Water pollution,

Abstract :

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are highly concerning bacteria listed on the Global Priority List of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria by the World Health Organization. Their resistance to antibiotics poses a significant threat to public health due to environmental pressures. This bacterium can survive and grow in harsh conditions and low-nutrient environments, and can easily be transmitted via the fecal-oral route. Water-borne VRE is an environmental and health problem. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of VRE isolates and their antibiotic patterns in environmental samples from the Ghale Rudkhan River in Guilan Province, Iran. The water samples were collected from the river and tested for the presence of Enterococci using bile esculin azide agar. After collection, the samples were identified using biochemical tests and molecular techniques with specific primers for the ddlE. Antibiotic resistance patterns of the isolates were determined using an antibiogram test. Furthermore, molecular identification of the vancomycin-resistant isolates was conducted using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with specific primers for the vanA and vanB genes.Out of 263 samples, Enterococci were found in 154 samples (69%) after a confirmatory ddlE gene analysis. Among these isolates, 130 (84%) were identified as VRE. The results indicated that nearly all of the isolates had vancomycin-resistant genes, with 89 isolates (68.46%) carrying vanA and 111 isolates (85.38%) carrying vanB. This study reveals that many of the enterococcal isolates obtained were resistant to streptomycin, kanamycin, gentamicin, and vancomycin. It also found that VRE carrying vanA and vanB genes are present in the Ghale Rudkhan River and that the sources of VRE are spread throughout the river basin. The high prevalence and antibiotic resistance rate of VRE strains of E. faecalis in water resources in Guilan province are concerning and require attention.

 

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