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First Report on vanA-Enterococcus faecalis Recovered from Soils Subjected to Long-Term Livestock Agricultural Practices in Azores Archipelago

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Abstract

Antibiotic resistance represents a serious threat to human health. Some agricultural practices may lead to the acquisition of antibiotic resistance on soil bacteria. The aim of this study was to characterize the antibiotic-resistant profile of enterococci in soils exposed to livestock agricultural practices in Azores archipelago. Twenty-four soil samples were collected in 3 different pasture lands of São Miguel Island from Azores archipelago, with a different number of grazing animals, and from a control site. Eight Enterococcus spp. isolates were recovered: E. faecium (n = 5), E. hirae (n = 1), E.faecalis (n = 1) and E. gallinarum (n = 1). The isolates were tested for antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. The E. faecalis isolate was resistant to vancomycin (VRE) and harboured the van(A), the aph(3′) and aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2′)-Ia antibiotic resistance genes as well the esp virulence gene. Almost all non-VRE isolates were resistant to erythromycin and ampicillin and harboured the erm(B) gene. The antibiotics used in dairy and beef livestock cattle production are excreted through manure, which may exert a selective pressure on soil bacteria, leading to a higher bacterial resistome in the soil. This represents a public health problem due to the negative consequences and it might represent to human health.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Vanessa Silva and Fernando Peixoto contributed equally to the presented work and should be considered as first authors.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Quinta de Prados, 5000-911, Vila Real, Portugal

    Vanessa Silva, Fernando Peixoto, Isabel Carvalho, Margarida Sousa, José Eduardo Pereira & Patrícia Alexandra Curado Quintas Dinis Poeta

  2. Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

    Vanessa Silva, Gilberto Igrejas, Isabel Carvalho & Margarida Sousa

  3. Functional Genomics and Proteomics Unit, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal

    Vanessa Silva, Gilberto Igrejas, Isabel Carvalho & Margarida Sousa

  4. Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV-REQUIMTE), University NOVA of Lisboa, Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal

    Gilberto Igrejas & Patrícia Alexandra Curado Quintas Dinis Poeta

  5. Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal

    Carolina Parelho, Patrícia Garcia & Armindo Rodrigues

  6. cE3c, Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Environmental Changes, Azorean Biodiversity Group, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal

    Carolina Parelho & Patrícia Garcia

  7. CECAV, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal

    José Eduardo Pereira

  8. IVAR, Institute of Volcanology and Risks Assessment, University of the Azores, Ponta Delgada, Portugal

    Armindo Rodrigues

Authors
  1. Vanessa Silva
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  2. Fernando Peixoto
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  3. Gilberto Igrejas
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  4. Carolina Parelho
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  5. Patrícia Garcia
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  6. Isabel Carvalho
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  7. Margarida Sousa
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  8. José Eduardo Pereira
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  9. Armindo Rodrigues
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  10. Patrícia Alexandra Curado Quintas Dinis Poeta
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrícia Alexandra Curado Quintas Dinis Poeta.

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Silva, V., Peixoto, F., Igrejas, G. et al. First Report on vanA-Enterococcus faecalis Recovered from Soils Subjected to Long-Term Livestock Agricultural Practices in Azores Archipelago. Int J Environ Res 12, 39–44 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-018-0068-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41742-018-0068-0

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