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. 2023 Sep 27;12(10):1487.
doi: 10.3390/antibiotics12101487.

Enterococci Isolated from One-Day-Old Chickens and Their Phenotypic Susceptibility to Antimicrobials in the Czech Republic

Jaroslav Bzdil  1 , Vladimir Sladecek  1 , David Senk  1 , Petr Stolar  1 , Zuzana Waicova  2 , Nela Kollertova  2 , Monika Zouharova  3 , Katarina Matiaskova  3 , Petr Linhart  4 , Katerina Nedbalcova  3
Affiliations

Enterococci Isolated from One-Day-Old Chickens and Their Phenotypic Susceptibility to Antimicrobials in the Czech Republic

Jaroslav Bzdil et al. Antibiotics (Basel). .

Abstract

Our study describes the prevalence and spectrum of enterococci isolated from one-day-old chickens in the Czech Republic, their level of antimicrobial resistance, and the occurrence of multiresistance. Over a 24-month period from 1 August 2021 to 31 July 2023, a total of 464 mixed samples of one-day-old chicken organs were examined during routine inspections at 12 randomly selected poultry farms in the Czech Republic. The samples were processed via cultivation methods and suspected strains were confirmed using the MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry method. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the MIC method for eight antimicrobials. A total of 128 isolates (prevalence of 27.6%) representing 4 species of enterococci were isolated, including Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus gallinarum, and Enterococcus hirae, with prevalence rates of 23.3%, 1.5%, 2.2%, and 0.6%, respectively. Susceptibility tests showed a high percentage of susceptible strains among E. faecalis, E. faecium, and E. gallinarum for penicillin-based antibiotics, sulfamethoxazole with trimethoprim, and florfenicol (80-100% susceptible strains). E. hirae was an exception, displaying complete resistance to enrofloxacin (0% susceptible strains) and a high degree of resistance to other tested antimicrobials (33.3% susceptible strains). Among the isolated strains, a total of 16 isolates (12.5%) showed resistance to 3 or more antimicrobials. Complete resistance to all eight antimicrobials simultaneously was observed in four isolates (3.1%). This research shows the possible sources of pathogenic enterococci and their virulence and resistance genes. The findings hold relevance for both veterinary and human medicine, contributing to a better understanding of enterococcal circulation in the human ecosystem and food chain, as well as the development of their resistance and multiresistance.

Keywords: animal; multiresistance; organ; poultry; prevalence; resistance; spectrum.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Percentage of susceptible, intermediate, and resistant isolates of E. faecalis (n = 108). PNC = penicillin, AMP = ampicillin, AMC = amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, ERY = erythromycin, ENR = enrofloxacin, FFC = florfenicol, TTC = tetracycline, and SXT = sulphamethoxazole + trimethoprim.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percentage of susceptible, intermediate, and resistant isolates of E. faecium (n = 7). PNC = penicillin, AMP = ampicillin, AMC = amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, ERY = erythromycin, ENR = enrofloxacin, FFC = florfenicol, TTC = tetracycline, and SXT = sulphamethoxazole + trimethoprim.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Percentage of susceptible, intermediate, and resistant isolates of E. gallinarum (n = 10). PNC = penicillin, AMP = ampicillin, AMC = amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, ERY = erythromycin, ENR = enrofloxacin, FFC = florfenicol, TTC = tetracycline, and SXT = sulphamethoxazole + trimethoprim.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Percentage of susceptible, intermediate, and resistant isolates of E. hirae (n = 3). PNC = penicillin, AMP = ampicillin, AMC = amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, ERY = erythromycin, ENR = enrofloxacin, FFC = florfenicol, TTC = tetracycline, and SXT = sulphamethoxazole + trimethoprim.
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