Occurrence of bacteriocin production among environmental enterococci.

The occurrence of enteroccoci in cattle dung water from the basins of 25 cattle farms of 15 northeastern Slovakia districts was screened as well as bacteriocin production among selective enterococcal isolates. The average total count of enterococci detected reached 5.0 x 10(3) cfu ml-1. Enterococcus faecium was the predominant species (25%) followed by Ent. casseliflavus (19.2%), Ent. faecalis (9.6%), Ent. avium and Ent. durans (1.9%). The antagonistic activity of isolates showed a mainly antilisterial effect. Enterococcus faecalis V24 strain produced a heat stable, largely hydrophobic antimicrobial substance with best production in the range pH 4 to 7 and with a strong inhibitory effect even against Gram-negative bacteria.