Detection of Antibiotic Resistance and Resistance Genes in Enterococci Isolated from Sucuk, a Traditional Turkish Dry-Fermented Sausage

WOS: 00041488440000729147090The aim of this study was to isolate enterococci in Sucuk, a traditional Turkish dry -fermented sausage and to analyze isolates for their biodiversity, antibiotic resistance patterns and the presence of some antibiotic resistance genes. A total of 60 enterococci strains were isolated from 20 sucuk samples manufactured without using a starter culture and they were identified as E. faecium (73.3%), E. faecalis (11.7%), E. hirae (8.3%), E. durans (3.3%), E. mundtii (1.7%) and E. thadandicus (1.7%). Most of the strains were found resistant to rifampin (51.67%) followed by ciprofloxacin (38.33%), nitrofurantoin (33.33%) and erythronlycin (21.67%). All strains were found susceptible to ampicillin. Only E. faecium FYE4 and FYE60 strains displayed susceptibility to all antibiotics. Other strains showed different resistance patterns to antibiotics. E. faecalis was found more resistant to antibiotics than other species. Most of the strains (61.7%) displayed resistance from between two and eight antibiotics. The ermB, ermC, gyrA, tetM, tetL and vanA genes were detected in some strains. A lack of correlation between genotypic and phenotypic analysis for some strains was detected. The results of this study indicated that Sucuk manufactured without using a starter culture is a reservoir of multiple antibiotic resistant enterococci. Consequently, Sucuk is a potential reservoir for the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes from animals to humans.Suleyman Demirel University Scientific Research Project Coordination UnitSuleyman Demirel University [3284-YL2-12]This study was financially supported by the Suleyman Demirel University Scientific Research Project Coordination Unit through project number 3284-YL2-12. Part of this study was presented as a poster presentation at the 2nd International Congress on Food Technology in Turkey, and the abstract was published in the Congress's book of abstracts