INVESTIGATION OF THE PRESENCE AND VIRULENCE TRAITS OF VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCUS IN WATER SAMPLES

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in tap and artesian well waters and to detect the vancomycin resistance genes and virulence genes of the isolates obtained from the samples. For this purpose, 200 samples (119 tap and 81 artesian well waters) were collected from several water supplies during November 2013 and June 2015 period in Bursa province. Seven isolates were recovered from artesian well waters and confirmed as Enterococcus by PCR method. E-test performed for vancomycin and teicoplanin MIC values indicated that only two isolates had the intermediate-level (8 μg/mL) resistance to vancomycin. No resistance was observed to teicoplanin in any of these isolates by E-test . All of 7 isolates were tested for vancomycin resistance genes ( van A, van B and van C) and virulence genes ( gel E, agg, esp and ace ). The results showed that enterococci isolates had no these genes. The present study suggested that the presence of the intermediate level VRE in artesian well waters and, also the waters from environmental supplies near human and animal niches could be play a role as potential reservoirs for enterococci having several types of resistance to vancomycin. Also, vancomycin resistant strains can be possible the spread in environment and also the transmission to human and animals through contaminated water sources.