Detection of vanC۱ and vanC۲ Genes in an Enterococcal Isolate and vanC Genes in non-Motile Enterococcus spp.

Background: In recent decades, bacterial antibiotic resistance (especially in enterococci) has become a significant problem for human and veterinary medicine. One of the most important antibiotic resistances in enterococci, vancomycin resistance, is encoded by van gene family. Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate antibiotic resistance to vancomycin in enterococci and thegenes responsible for this resistance. Materials and Methods: Two-hundred and thirty enterococcal isolates from pigs (۲۰۷ isolates), chickens (۱۵ isolates) and humans (eight isolates) were phenotypically and genotypically tested for resistance to vancomycin by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The van genes were confirmed by gene sequencing. Results: Of the total isolates, ۱۹% were phenotypically resistant to vancomycin, while nearly ۱۵% contained either vanC۱ or vanC۲ gene. One resistant E. casseliflavus isolate with pig origin (MIC > ۸ μg/mL) contained both vanC۱ and vanC۲ genes. Furthermore, one vanC۱ was found in a sensitive E. faecalis isolate of pig origin (MIC ≤ ۴ μg/mL) and one vanC۲ in a resistant E. faecium isolate of chicken origin (MIC > ۳۲ μg/mL). These genes were not accompanied by other van genes. Other detected genes were vanA in ۱۱ E. faecium isolates of chicken origin (MIC > ۳۲ μg/mL). No vanB genes were found. Gene sequencing results showed ۱۰۰% identity with GenBank reference genes. Conclusions: The current report is the first report on the detection of vanC۱ and vanC۲ genes in one enterococcal species with pig origin. This report is important as it proves the horizontal transfer of various vanC genes to one species possibly due to the compatibility class of plasmids. Furthermore, detection of vanC genes in E. faecalis and E. faecium isolates is important as it suggests that resistance to vancomycin in non-motile enterococci can be encoded by several mechanisms.