Resistance to antimicrobial agents among enterococci isolated from fecal samples of wild marine species in the southern coast of Brazil

• Very few studies have examined the antimicrobial resistance in enterococci in fecal samples of wild marine species.
• This study report the species distribution and occurrence of resistant-enterococci in feces of wild marine species.
• Antibiotic resistance in enterococci isolated from these animals is an important gap that should be addressed.
• Antibiotic resistant strains could be related to food web interactions, aquatic pollutants or environmental resistome.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate species distribution, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and presence of resistance genes in enterococci isolated from fecal samples of wild marine species, including seabirds (n = 12), sea turtles (n = 8), and mammals (n = 3) found alive or dead in southern coast of Brazil. Enterococci were classified based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, tested for antibiotic susceptibility, and the presence of tet(S), tet(M), tet(L), mrsC, and erm(B) genes by PCR. Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium were the most common species. Single (37.09%), double (25.80%), and multiple (16.12%) antibiotic resistance patterns were observed. Resistance to rifampicin occurred most frequently. The msrC, tet(M), and/or tet(L) genes were detected in 60.15%, 73.07%, and 23.07% of the resistant strains, respectively. In conclusion, the presence of antibiotic resistant strains in these species could be related to food web interactions and aquatic pollutants or linked to environmental resistome.

The paper of Prichula et al. describes the antimicrobial resistance profiles in different species of enterococci isolated from fecal samples of wild marine species, pointing to the importance of these wild species in studies of antibiotic resistance in the marine ecosystem.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide