Presence of erm gene classes in Gram-positive bacteria of animal and human origin in Denmark

Abstract

A classification of the different erm gene classes based on published sequences was performed, and specific primers to detect some of these classes designed. The presence of ermA (Tn554), ermB (class IV) and ermC (class VI) was determined by PCR in a total of 113 enterococcal, 77 streptococcal and 68 staphylococcal erythromycin resistant isolates of animal and human origin. At least one of these genes was detected in 88% of the isolates. Four isolates contained more than one erm gene. ermB dominated among the enterococci (88%) and streptococci (90%) and ermC among staphylococci (75%) with ermA (Tn554) present in some isolates (16%). Variations in the presence of the different genes when comparing staphylococcal isolates of human and animal origin were observed. z

Antimicrobial resistance in staphylococci from animals with particular reference to bovine Staphylococcus aureus, porcine Staphylococcus hyicus, and canine Staphylococcus intermedius

“…Target modification is the most widespread resistance mechanism and refers to the dimethylation of an adenine residue in the 23S rRNA. Four rRNA methylase (erm) genes, designated erm(A), erm(B), erm(C), and erm(F), have until now been identified in staphylococci of animal origin [14,20,27,38,39,73,85,90,103,104,106].…”

“…Studies of the occurrence of the different erm genes among animal staphylococci [14,20,27] showed that erm(C) genes were frequently seen in S. hyicus and other porcine staphylococci [20,27], but also in many staphylococcal species from various animal sources [38,39,73,85,90,106] while erm(B) genes were the dominant erm genes in canine S. intermedius isolates [8,20]. Genes of the class erm(F) have so far only been detected in a few S. intermedius iso-lates from pigeons [14] and erm(A) genes have also only been identified in single animal staphylococcal isolates, mainly of avian origin [47,103] and porcine origin [27].…”

“…Genes of the class erm(F) have so far only been detected in a few S. intermedius iso-lates from pigeons [14] and erm(A) genes have also only been identified in single animal staphylococcal isolates, mainly of avian origin [47,103] and porcine origin [27]. In rare cases, two different erm genes were present in the same staphylococcal isolate [20].…”

Effects of the antimicrobial tylosin on the microbial community structure of an anaerobic sequencing batch reactor

“…Resistance to macrolides in other organisms may result from target modification, enhanced drug efflux, and drug inactivation. The most widespread mechanism of macrolide resistance is target modification mediated by erythromycin ribosome methylase genes, which prevents macrolide, lincosamide, and type B streptogramin (MLS B ) antimicrobials from binding to 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) (Jensen et al, 1999;Weisblum, 1995).…”

Distribution and persistence of fecal bacterial populations in liquid and dewatered sludge from a biological treatment plant

“…Vancomycinresistant enterococci (VRE) have been identified as an important cause of hospital-acquired infection (Goossens, 1998) and have been related to animal production (Aarestrup, 1995;Klare et al, 1995;Robredo et al, 1999;Stobbering et al, 1999;Teuber and Perreten, 2000). Enterococci isolates from animal and human origins have also been reported to carry erythromycin resistance genes (Jackson et al, 2004;Jensen et al, 1999). Consequently, resistance to these two antibiotics could be potentially transmitted through the bacterial population of wastewater and sludge, particularly in sewage treatment plants which have a high concentration of bacteria of distinct fecal origin.…”