• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.193-200
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• 2017

This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial resistance profiles and resistance genes in 62 Escherichia coli isolated from dogs and cats hospitalized at animal hospitals in Daegu. E. coli isolates showed high resistance to nalidixic acid (46.8%) and ampicillin (45.2%). Resistance to the other antimicrobial agents was less than 30%, and no resistant isolates were detected for imipenem and amikacin. Of the 28 ampicillin-resistant isolates, TEM and CTX-M genes were detected in 16 (57.1%) and 11 (39.3%), respectively. The aadA gene was found in 4 (26.7%) of 15 gentamicin-resistant isolates, and strA-strB gene was found in 10 (66.7%) isolates. The sul I and sul II genes were detected in 11 (61.1%) and 14 (77.8%) of 18 trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole-resistant isolates, and tetB gene in 9 (81.8%) of 11 minocycline-resistant isolates, and cmlA gene in 2 (22.2%) of 8 chloramphenicol-resistant isolates. The qnrB and qnrS genes were found in 3 (10.3%) and 1 (3.4%) of 28 nalidixic acid-resistant isolates, respectively. Whereas, none of the SHV, CMY-2, tetA, dfr Ia and dfr VII, and qnrA genes were found. Our results show a wide variety of resistance genes in E. coli isolates from dogs and cats. This study also represents the first report of qnrB and qnrS gene producing E. coli isolates from dogs in republic of Korea.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.734-742
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• 2021

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence and species of coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) in retail pork meat samples collected during nationwide monitoring. The staphylococcal isolates were characterized for antimicrobial and zinc chloride resistance and enterotoxigenic potential. Methods: A total of 260 pre-packaged pork meat samples were collected from 35 retail markets in 8 provinces in Korea for isolation of staphylococci. Antimicrobial and zinc chloride resistance phenotypes, and genes associated with the resistance phenotypes were determined on the isolates. Furthermore, the presence and distribution of 19 staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) genes and enterotoxin-like genes among the pork-associated staphylococci were determined by multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based assays using the specific primer sets. Results: A total of 29 staphylococcal strains (29/260, 11.1%) were isolated from samples of retail pork meat, 24 (83%) of which were CoNS. The four CoNS species identified were S. saprophyticus (n = 16, 55%), S. sciuri (n = 3, 10%), S. warneri (n = 3, 10%), and S. epidermidis (n = 2, 7%). Among the 29 isolates, four methicillin-resistant CoNS (MR-CoNS; three S. sciuri and one S. epidermidis) and one methicillin-resistant CoPS (MR-CoPS; one S. aureus) were identified. In addition, a relatively high level of tetracycline (TET) resistance (52%) was confirmed in CoNS, along with a predominant distribution of tet(K). The most prevalent SEs were sep (45%), and sen (28%), which were carried by 81% of S. saprophyticus. Conclusion: These findings suggest that CoNS, especially S. saprophyticus strains, in raw pork meat could be a potential risk factor for staphylococcal food poisoning (SFP), and therefore, requires further investigation to elucidate the role of SEls in SFP and virulence of the pathogen. Our results also suggest that CoNS from raw pork meat may act as a source for transmission of antimicrobial resistance genes such as staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec and tet(K).

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.942-945
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• 2008

There have been concerns about possible pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance in Enterococcus, which constitute more than 50% of probiotics in the worldwide market. In this study, Enterococcus in sixteen products manufactured by ten different companies was tested for the presence of six virulence genes and two vancomycin resistance genes. Results in this study showed the safety of Enterococcus on the Korean market and the importance of screening vanA, vanE, agg, cylA, esp, and gelE. Pulse-field gel electrophoresis showed that the sixteen isolates tested in this study are originated from three strains.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.82.1-82.12
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• 2023

Background: The current conventional serotyping based on antigen-antisera agglutination could not provide a better understanding of the potential pathogenicity of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Brancaster. Surveillance data from Malaysian poultry farms indicated an increase in its presence over the years. Objective: This study aims to investigate the virulence determinants and antimicrobial resistance in S. Brancaster isolated from chickens in Malaysia. Methods: One hundred strains of archived S. Brancaster isolated from chicken cloacal swabs and raw chicken meat from 2017 to 2022 were studied. Two sets of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were conducted to identify eight virulence genes associated with pathogenicity in Salmonella (invasion protein gene [invA], Salmonella invasion protein gene [sipB], Salmonella-induced filament gene [sifA], cytolethal-distending toxin B gene [cdtB], Salmonella iron transporter gene [sitC], Salmonella pathogenicity islands gene [spiA], Salmonella plasmid virulence gene [spvB], and inositol phosphate phosphatase gene [sopB]). Antimicrobial susceptibility assessment was conducted by disc diffusion method on nine selected antibiotics for the S. Brancaster isolates. S. Brancaster, with the phenotypic ACSSuT-resistance pattern (ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulphonamides, and tetracycline), was subjected to PCR to detect the corresponding resistance gene(s). Results: Virulence genes detected in S. Brancaster in this study were invA, sitC, spiA, sipB, sopB, sifA, cdtB, and spvB. A total of 36 antibiogram patterns of S. Brancaster with a high level of multidrug resistance were observed, with ampicillin exhibiting the highest resistance. Over a third of the isolates displayed ACSSuT-resistance, and seven resistance genes (β-lactamase temoneira [bla_TEM], florfenicol/chloramphenicol resistance gene [floR], streptomycin resistance gene [strA], aminoglycoside nucleotidyltransferase gene [ant(3")-Ia], sulfonamides resistance gene [sul-1, sul-2], and tetracycline resistance gene [tetA]) were detected. Conclusion: Multidrug-resistant S. Brancaster from chickens harbored an array of virulence-associated genes similar to other clinically significant and invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars, placing it as another significant foodborne zoonosis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.30 no.8
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• pp.1180-1183
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• 2020

The prevalence and characterization of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) determinants in ciprofloxacin-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from a Korean commercial layer farm were studied. A total of 45 ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli isolates were recovered and all isolates were multidrug-resistant. Eight isolates have the PMQR genes aac(6')-Ib-cr, qnrS1, and qnrB4, and seven isolates exhibited double amino acid exchange at both gyrA and parC, and have high fluoroquinolone minimum inhibitory concentrations. Five transconjugants demonstrated transferability of PMQR and β-lactamase genes and similar antimicrobial resistance. Because PMQR genes in isolates from commercial layer chickens could enter the food supply and directly affect humans, control of ciprofloxacin resistance is needed.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.230-235
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• 2020

The global evolution of antibiotic resistance has threatened the efficacy of available treatment options with ravaging impacts observed in developing countries. As a result, investigations into the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the role of plasmids are crucial. In this study, we investigated the presence and distribution of bla_TEM and gyrA genes, plasmid profiles, and the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Salmonella strains isolated from raw meat and stool sources across Niger State, Nigeria. Ninety-eight samples, comprising 72 raw meat and 26 stool samples, were screened for Salmonella spp. The antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella isolates to 10 commonly used antimicrobial agents was determined using the KirbyBauer disc diffusion method. Isolates were further analyzed for plasmids, in addition to PCR amplification of beta-lactamase (bla_TEM) and gyrA genes. A total of 31 Salmonella spp. were isolated, with 22 from raw meat (70.97%) and 9 from stool (29.03%). Salmonella spp. with multiple resistance patterns to ceftazidime, cefuroxime, ceftriaxone, erythromycin, ampicillin, cloxacillin, and gentamicin were detected. Ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin were found to be the most effective among the antibiotics tested, with 67.7% and 93.5% susceptible isolates, respectively. Nine (29.03%) isolates harbored plasmids with molecular sizes ranging between 6557 bp and 23137 bp. PCR amplification of gyrA was detected in 1 (3.23%) of the 31 isolates while 28 isolates (90.32%) were positive for bla_TEM. This study shows the incidence of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella isolates and the possible role of plasmids; it also highlights the prevalence of ampicillin resistance in this local population.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2021

This study was aimed to investigate occurrence and the antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from the feces of wild birds in Daegu. In total, 98 E. coli isolates (17.9%) were obtained from 547 fecal samples of wild birds. The E. coli carried by the birds showed a relatively high rate of antimicrobial resistance to tetracycline (27.6%) and ampicillin (21.4%). Drug resistance of the isolates to the others (penicillins, cephems, carbapenems, aminoglycosides, quinolones, sulfonamides and phenicols) resulted in the rates less than 20%, and all isolates were susceptible to imipenem, ciprofloxacin, cefotetan, and amikacin. Approximately, 45% E. coli among the isolates were resistant to one or more drugs tested. The higher rate of tetracycline resistance led us to determine the prevalence of the tet genes (tetA, tetB, tetC, tetD and tetE) in the tetracycline-resistant E. coli isolates by using PCR. All isolates of the tetracycline-resistant E. coli contained at least one or more of these tet genes examined. The most prevalent one was tetA (59.3%), and followed by tetB (7.4%) when tested with the selected 5 tet genes. Except tetA and tetB, however, the remaining tet genes (tetC, tetD, and tetE) tested were not found in this study. Nine isolates among the tetracycline-resistant E. coli contained the two (tetA and tetB) determinants of tetracycline resistance, simultaneously.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.465-472
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• 2019

Several reports describe antimicrobial-resistance transfer among children and the community in outbreak situations, but transfer between a child and a caregiver has not been examined in child care facilities under normal circumstances. We investigated the transfer of antimicrobial-resistance genes, resistant bacteria, or both among healthy children and teachers. From 2007 to 2009, 104 Escherichia coli isolates were obtained from four teachers and 38 children in a child care center. Twenty-six cephem-resistant isolates were obtained from children in 2007 and 2008. In 2009, cephem-resistant isolates were detected in children as well as a teacher. Nalidixic acid-resistant isolates from the same teacher for 3 years showed low similarity (<50%) to each other. However, an isolate from a teacher in 2007 and another from a child in 2008 showed high similarity (87%). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed 100% similarity for four isolates in 2007 and one isolate in 2008, and also similarity among seven isolates carrying the virulence gene (CNF1). This study yielded the following findings: (1) a gene for extended-spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase was transferred from a child to other children and a teacher; (2) a nalidixic acid-resistant isolate was transferred from a teacher to a child; and (3) a virulent bacterium was transferred between children.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.118-123
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• 2016

Antimicrobial agents have been used in poultry for treatment of bacterial infections or additives over the past half century. However, increasing antimicrobial resistance has led to selective pressure for therapeutic use in humans and made treatment of bacterial infection more difficult. In this study, we examined the prevalence of plasmid mediated antimicrobial resistant determinants for resistance to ${\beta}-lactam$, quinolone, and aminoglycoside in Enterobacteriaceae isolates obtained from chickens in Gyeongsang provinces, and correlation between the resistant genes and antimicrobial resistance rate was also assessed. A total of 43 Enterobacteriaceae isolates were recovered from 40 chickens at Gyeongsang provinces in Korea. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion method. PCR and DNA sequencing were performed to characterize the antimicrobial resistant genes. Of the 43 Enterobacteriaceae isolates tested, 2 isolates harbored $bla_{CTX-M-14}$ gene, and 2 and 5 strains contained qnrS and aac(6')-Ib-cr genes, respectively. A total of 43 isolates displayed a relatively lower susceptible rate ranging between 0.0 and 23.3% to most of the antimicrobial agents, except cefepime, ceftazidime, and cefaclor. We confirmed that plasmid mediated antimicrobial resistant determinants were distributed in Enterobacteriaceae isolates from chickens. Investigation of the genes and monitoring of antimicrobial resistance rate is required to prevent further spreading of antimicrobial resistant genes among Enterobacteriaceae isolates.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.390-402
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• 2023

Salmonella are Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria commonly found in food animals such as poultry and swine and potentially constitute risks and threats to food safety and public health through transmissible virulence and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes. Although there are previous studies in the Philippines regarding genotypic and phenotypic AMR in Salmonella, there are very few on virulence and their associations. Hence, this study collected 700 Salmonella isolates from swine samples in abattoirs and wet markets among four districts in Metro Manila and characterized their genotypic virulence and β-lactam AMR profiles. Gene frequency patterns and statistical associations between virulence and bla genes and comparisons based on location types (abattoirs and wet markets) and districts were also determined. High prevalence (>50%) of virulence genes was detected encompassing Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) 1-5 suggesting their pathogenic potential, but none possessed plasmid-borne virulence genes spvR and spvC. For bla, bla_TEM was detected with high prevalence (>45%) and revealed significant associations to four SPI genes, namely, avrA, hilA, mgtC, and spi4R, which suggest high resistance potential particularly to β-lactam antibiotics and relationships with pathogenicity that remain mechanistically unestablished until now. Lastly, comparisons of location types and districts showed variations in gene prevalence suggesting effects from environmental factors throughout the swine production chain. This study provides vital data on the genotypic virulence and AMR of Salmonella from swine in abattoirs and wet markets that suggest their pathogenicity and resistance potential for policymakers to implement enforced surveillance and regulations for the improvement of the Philippine swine industry.