AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine if vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. [VRE] carrying vanA and/or vanB genes were present in public marine beaches and a fishing pier [2001-2003, 2008] from Washington and California [2008]. METHODS: PCR assays for the vanA and/or vanB genes with verification by DNA-DNA hybridization of the PCR products were used. Positive isolates were speciated using the BD BBL Crystal Identification and/or by sequencing the 16S ribosomal region. RESULTS: Eighteen (8%) of 227 isolates including Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus casseliflavus/gallinarum and a Staphylococcus epidermidis carrying vanA and/or vanB genes, from four of six Washington and one of two California sites, were identified. Selected VRE and the S. epidermidis were able to transfer their van genes to an E. faecalis recipient at frequencies ranging from 1.9 x 10(-6) to 6.7 x 10(-9). CONCLUSIONS: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. was isolated from five of the seven sites suggesting that other North America public beaches could be the reservoirs for VRE and should be assessed. SIGNIFICANCE & IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first report of isolation and characterization of VRE strains (and a vanB Staphylococcus sp.) from North American environmental sources suggesting that public beaches may be a reservoir for possible transmission of VRE to beach visitors.
AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine if vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. [VRE] carrying vanA and/or vanB genes were present in public marine beaches and a fishing pier [2001-2003, 2008] from Washington and California [2008]. METHODS: PCR assays for the vanA and/or vanB genes with verification by DNA-DNA hybridization of the PCR products were used. Positive isolates were speciated using the BD BBL Crystal Identification and/or by sequencing the 16S ribosomal region. RESULTS: Eighteen (8%) of 227 isolates including Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus casseliflavus/gallinarum and a Staphylococcus epidermidis carrying vanA and/or vanB genes, from four of six Washington and one of two California sites, were identified. Selected VRE and the S. epidermidis were able to transfer their van genes to an E. faecalis recipient at frequencies ranging from 1.9 x 10(-6) to 6.7 x 10(-9). CONCLUSIONS:Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. was isolated from five of the seven sites suggesting that other North America public beaches could be the reservoirs for VRE and should be assessed. SIGNIFICANCE & IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This is the first report of isolation and characterization of VRE strains (and a vanBStaphylococcus sp.) from North American environmental sources suggesting that public beaches may be a reservoir for possible transmission of VRE to beach visitors.
Authors: Richard Whitman; Valerie J Harwood; Thomas A Edge; Meredith Nevers; Muruleedhara Byappanahalli; Kannappan Vijayavel; João Brandão; Michael J Sadowsky; Elizabeth Wheeler Alm; Allan Crowe; Donna Ferguson; Zhongfu Ge; Elizabeth Halliday; Julie Kinzelman; Greg Kleinheinz; Kasia Przybyla-Kelly; Christopher Staley; Zachery Staley; Helena M Solo-Gabriele Journal: Rev Environ Sci Biotechnol Date: 2014-09-01 Impact factor: 8.044
Authors: Emily Levin-Edens; Olusegun O Soge; David No; Amy Stiffarm; J Scott Meschke; Marilyn C Roberts Journal: FEMS Microbiol Ecol Date: 2011-11-15 Impact factor: 4.194
Authors: Suzanne Young; Bina Nayak; Shan Sun; Brian D Badgley; Jason R Rohr; Valerie J Harwood Journal: Appl Environ Microbiol Date: 2016-08-30 Impact factor: 4.792