Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) strains isolated from animals and humans in Korea

Joon Young Song; In Sook Hwang; Joong Sik Eom; Hee Jin Cheong; Won Ki Bae; Yong Ho Park; Woo Joo Kim

doi:10.3904/kjim.2005.20.1.55

Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) strains isolated from animals and humans in Korea

Joon Young Song, In Sook Hwang, Joong Sik Eom, Hee Jin Cheong, Won Ki Bae, Yong Ho Park, Woo Joo Kim

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: To assess the possibility of VRE transmission from animals to humans, we studied the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in farm animals, raw chicken meat, and healthy people. We then determined the molecular relatedness of VRE isolates between animals and humans in Korea. Methods: We aimed to isolate VRE from 150 enterococci specimens of farm animals, 15 raw chicken meat samples, and stools from 200 healthy people. Species differentiation was done with conventional biochemical tests. Vancomycin resistance genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using the agar dilution method, antimicrobial susceptibility was tested for 8 antimicrobials and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was done to evaluate the molecular relatedness of VRE isolates. Results: The prevalence of VRE was 14.7% (22/150) in farm animal specimens, 1% (2/200) in healthy people, and 60% (9/15) in raw chicken meat. Of 22 animal VRE isolates, 1 vanA E. faecium, 15 vanC1 E. gallinarum, and 6 vanC2 E. casseliflavus were identified. All of the 9 VRE from raw chicken meat and all of the 20 clinical VRE strains were vanA E. faecium. However, in healthy people, only 2 vanC2 E. casselflavus were isolated. These showed low-level resistance to vancomycin and susceptibility to teicoplanin. However, 9 VRE strains from raw chicken meat had high-level resistance to vancomycin (MIC_50,90: > 128 μg/mL), teicoplanin (MIC_50,90: > 128 μg/mL), ampicillin (MIC₅₀:,₉₀: > 128 μg/mL), erythromycin (MIC₅₀,₉₀: > 128 μg/mL), and tetracycline (MIC_50/90: 128/>128 μg/mL). Conclusion: This study demonstrated little evidence of VRE colonization in healthy people despite high recovery of VRE among raw chicken meat. It is suggested that there is little evidence of VRE transmission from animals to healthy people. However, we assumed that there exists the possibility of VRE contamination during the processing of chicken meat.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	55-62
Number of pages	8
Journal	Korean Journal of Internal Medicine
Volume	20
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.3904/kjim.2005.20.1.55
Publication status	Published - 2005 Mar
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Domestic animals
Healthy person
PCR
PFGE (electrophoresis, gel, pulsed-field)
Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Internal Medicine

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10.3904/kjim.2005.20.1.55

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title = "Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) strains isolated from animals and humans in Korea",

abstract = "Background: To assess the possibility of VRE transmission from animals to humans, we studied the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in farm animals, raw chicken meat, and healthy people. We then determined the molecular relatedness of VRE isolates between animals and humans in Korea. Methods: We aimed to isolate VRE from 150 enterococci specimens of farm animals, 15 raw chicken meat samples, and stools from 200 healthy people. Species differentiation was done with conventional biochemical tests. Vancomycin resistance genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using the agar dilution method, antimicrobial susceptibility was tested for 8 antimicrobials and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was done to evaluate the molecular relatedness of VRE isolates. Results: The prevalence of VRE was 14.7% (22/150) in farm animal specimens, 1% (2/200) in healthy people, and 60% (9/15) in raw chicken meat. Of 22 animal VRE isolates, 1 vanA E. faecium, 15 vanC1 E. gallinarum, and 6 vanC2 E. casseliflavus were identified. All of the 9 VRE from raw chicken meat and all of the 20 clinical VRE strains were vanA E. faecium. However, in healthy people, only 2 vanC2 E. casselflavus were isolated. These showed low-level resistance to vancomycin and susceptibility to teicoplanin. However, 9 VRE strains from raw chicken meat had high-level resistance to vancomycin (MIC50,90: > 128 μg/mL), teicoplanin (MIC50,90: > 128 μg/mL), ampicillin (MIC50:,90: > 128 μg/mL), erythromycin (MIC50,90: > 128 μg/mL), and tetracycline (MIC50/90: 128/>128 μg/mL). Conclusion: This study demonstrated little evidence of VRE colonization in healthy people despite high recovery of VRE among raw chicken meat. It is suggested that there is little evidence of VRE transmission from animals to healthy people. However, we assumed that there exists the possibility of VRE contamination during the processing of chicken meat.",

keywords = "Domestic animals, Healthy person, PCR, PFGE (electrophoresis, gel, pulsed-field), Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus",

author = "Song, {Joon Young} and Hwang, {In Sook} and Eom, {Joong Sik} and Cheong, {Hee Jin} and Bae, {Won Ki} and Park, {Yong Ho} and Kim, {Woo Joo}",

year = "2005",

month = mar,

doi = "10.3904/kjim.2005.20.1.55",

language = "English",

volume = "20",

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T1 - Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) strains isolated from animals and humans in Korea

AU - Song, Joon Young

AU - Hwang, In Sook

AU - Eom, Joong Sik

AU - Cheong, Hee Jin

AU - Bae, Won Ki

AU - Park, Yong Ho

AU - Kim, Woo Joo

PY - 2005/3

Y1 - 2005/3

N2 - Background: To assess the possibility of VRE transmission from animals to humans, we studied the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in farm animals, raw chicken meat, and healthy people. We then determined the molecular relatedness of VRE isolates between animals and humans in Korea. Methods: We aimed to isolate VRE from 150 enterococci specimens of farm animals, 15 raw chicken meat samples, and stools from 200 healthy people. Species differentiation was done with conventional biochemical tests. Vancomycin resistance genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using the agar dilution method, antimicrobial susceptibility was tested for 8 antimicrobials and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was done to evaluate the molecular relatedness of VRE isolates. Results: The prevalence of VRE was 14.7% (22/150) in farm animal specimens, 1% (2/200) in healthy people, and 60% (9/15) in raw chicken meat. Of 22 animal VRE isolates, 1 vanA E. faecium, 15 vanC1 E. gallinarum, and 6 vanC2 E. casseliflavus were identified. All of the 9 VRE from raw chicken meat and all of the 20 clinical VRE strains were vanA E. faecium. However, in healthy people, only 2 vanC2 E. casselflavus were isolated. These showed low-level resistance to vancomycin and susceptibility to teicoplanin. However, 9 VRE strains from raw chicken meat had high-level resistance to vancomycin (MIC50,90: > 128 μg/mL), teicoplanin (MIC50,90: > 128 μg/mL), ampicillin (MIC50:,90: > 128 μg/mL), erythromycin (MIC50,90: > 128 μg/mL), and tetracycline (MIC50/90: 128/>128 μg/mL). Conclusion: This study demonstrated little evidence of VRE colonization in healthy people despite high recovery of VRE among raw chicken meat. It is suggested that there is little evidence of VRE transmission from animals to healthy people. However, we assumed that there exists the possibility of VRE contamination during the processing of chicken meat.

AB - Background: To assess the possibility of VRE transmission from animals to humans, we studied the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in farm animals, raw chicken meat, and healthy people. We then determined the molecular relatedness of VRE isolates between animals and humans in Korea. Methods: We aimed to isolate VRE from 150 enterococci specimens of farm animals, 15 raw chicken meat samples, and stools from 200 healthy people. Species differentiation was done with conventional biochemical tests. Vancomycin resistance genotyping was done by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Using the agar dilution method, antimicrobial susceptibility was tested for 8 antimicrobials and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was done to evaluate the molecular relatedness of VRE isolates. Results: The prevalence of VRE was 14.7% (22/150) in farm animal specimens, 1% (2/200) in healthy people, and 60% (9/15) in raw chicken meat. Of 22 animal VRE isolates, 1 vanA E. faecium, 15 vanC1 E. gallinarum, and 6 vanC2 E. casseliflavus were identified. All of the 9 VRE from raw chicken meat and all of the 20 clinical VRE strains were vanA E. faecium. However, in healthy people, only 2 vanC2 E. casselflavus were isolated. These showed low-level resistance to vancomycin and susceptibility to teicoplanin. However, 9 VRE strains from raw chicken meat had high-level resistance to vancomycin (MIC50,90: > 128 μg/mL), teicoplanin (MIC50,90: > 128 μg/mL), ampicillin (MIC50:,90: > 128 μg/mL), erythromycin (MIC50,90: > 128 μg/mL), and tetracycline (MIC50/90: 128/>128 μg/mL). Conclusion: This study demonstrated little evidence of VRE colonization in healthy people despite high recovery of VRE among raw chicken meat. It is suggested that there is little evidence of VRE transmission from animals to healthy people. However, we assumed that there exists the possibility of VRE contamination during the processing of chicken meat.

KW - Domestic animals

KW - Healthy person

KW - PCR

KW - PFGE (electrophoresis, gel, pulsed-field)

KW - Vancomycin-resistant enterococcus

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Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) strains isolated from animals and humans in Korea

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