Virulence factors in enterococci from partridges (Alectoris rufa) representing a food safety problem.

  1. Silva, N. 2
  2. Igrejas, G. 2
  3. Vaz, Joana . 2
  4. Araújo, C. 2
  5. Cardoso, L. 23
  6. Rodrigues, J. 2
  7. Torres, C. 1
  8. Poeta, P. 2
  1. 1 Universidad de La Rioja
    info

    Universidad de La Rioja

    Logroño, España

    ROR https://ror.org/0553yr311

  2. 2 Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro
    info

    Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro

    Vila Real, Portugal

    ROR https://ror.org/03qc8vh97

  3. 3 Universidade Do Porto
    info

    Universidade Do Porto

    Oporto, Portugal

    ROR https://ror.org/043pwc612

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Revista:
Foodborne Pathogens and Disease

ISSN: 1535-3141

Año de publicación: 2011

Volumen: 8

Número: 7

Páginas: 831-833

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.1089/FPD.2010.0781 SCOPUS: 2-s2.0-79959881528 WoS: WOS:000292284800011 GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Otras publicaciones en: Foodborne Pathogens and Disease

Resumen

Forty-three Enterococcus isolates recovered from fecal samples of partridges, during the partridge hunting season, were studied for gelatinase and β-hemolysis activities. The presence of fsr-gelE genes and the cyl operon was studied by polymerase chain reaction and correlated with gelatinase and β-hemolysis production, respectively. In addition, genes encoding additional virulence factors (cpd, hyl, agg, esp, and ace) was also analyzed in all enterococci. Most of our Enterococcus faecalis isolates showed gelatinase activity (10 of 15 isolates), and this activity was not present in the other enterococcal species. All enterococci that showed gelatinase activity harbored the gelE and fsr genes. A large proportion of our isolates harbored genes of the cyl operon (19 of 43 isolates), although only 1 isolate contained the five cyl tested genes (E. faecalis), being the only one that expressed β-hemolysis. From the additional virulence factors (cpd, hyl, agg, esp, and ace), at least one virulence gene was detected in 13 of the 15 E. faecalis isolates, with cpd being the most frequently detected gene (9 isolates), followed by agg (5 isolates) and ace (4 isolates) genes. These virulence genes were not detected in the other enterococcal species with the exception of one E. faecium and E. casseliflavus isolate that harbored the hyl and cpd genes, respectively. Moreover, the esp gene was not detected in any of our isolates. In conclusion, this study showed the presence of virulence factors in enterococci of partridges and the possible transmission to humans through the food chain. © Copyright 2011, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.