Isolation and Identification of Enterococci from Seawater Samples: Assessment of Their Resistance to Antibiotics and Heavy Metals
- 14 December 2006
- journal article
- Published by Springer Science and Business Media LLC in Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
- Vol. 125 (1-3), 219-228
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-006-9506-0
Abstract
A hundred Enterococcus strains were isolated from seawater samples collected from coastal areas of Istanbul. Isolates were identified to the species level using standard biochemical tests specified by Facklam and Collins. The species distribution was as follows Enterococcus faecalis (96%), Enterococcus gallinarum (3%) and Enterococcus solitarius (1%). The resistance of bacteria to both heavy metals (zinc [Zn], iron [Fe], cadmium [Cd], chrome [Cr], cobalt [Co]) and antibiotics (ampicillin 10 μg [AP], penicillin G 10 Units [PG], gentamycin 10 μg [GM], streptomycin 10 μg [S], chloramphenicol 10 μg [C], erythromycin 15 μg [E], kanamycin 30 μg [K], amikacin 30 μg [AK], nalidixic acid 30 μg [NA], and vancomycin 30 μg [VA]) was evaluated. None of the strains was resistant to VA. It was found that among the 100 isolates, those that exhibit resistance to antibiotics, particularly NA, S and K, were also resistant all the heavy metals tested. To our knowledge this is the first report focusing on determination of resistance of environmental enterococci found in Istanbul against heavy metals and antibiotics. Thus, combined expressions of antibiotic and heavy metal resistance may help to reinforce ecological and epidemiological studies and to determine the role of these strains in antibiotic and heavy metal resistance dissemination.Keywords
This publication has 35 references indexed in Scilit:
- In vitro antibacterial activity of echinomycin and a novel analogue, YK2000, against vancomycin-resistant enterococciInternational Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 2004
- Emergence of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in San Francisco Bay Area Hospitals During 1994 to 1998Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 2004
- Effect of the Increasing Use of Piperacillin/Tazobactam on the Incidence of Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci in Four Academic Medical CentersInfection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 2004
- Antibiotic resistance and genotypic characterization by PFGE of clinical and environmental isolates of enterococciFEMS Microbiology Letters, 2001
- Epidemiology and ecology of enterococci, with special reference to antibiotic resistant strains, in animals, humans and the environment Example of an ongoing project within the European research programmeInternational Journal of Antimicrobial Agents, 2000
- Evaluation of media for the enumeration of faecal streptococci from natural water samplesJournal of Microbiological Methods, 1995
- Resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals in escherichia coli from marine fishEnvironmental Toxicology and Water Quality, 1993
- Enumeration by a miniaturized method of Escherichia coli, Streptococcus bovis and enterococci as indicators of the origin of faecal pollution of watersJournal of Applied Bacteriology, 1991
- Resistance to antibiotics and heavy metals of Pseudontonas aeruginosa isolated from natural watersJournal of Applied Bacteriology, 1990
- RESISTANCE TO CADMIUM, ARSENATE AND MERCURY AMONG DANISH STRAINS OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ISOLATED FROM CASES OF BACTERIAEMIA, 1957-74Journal of Medical Microbiology, 1980