Abstract
This study evaluated the antibiotic resistance characteristics and virulence genes of enterococci isolated from raw and processed seafood sold in the Marmara Region, Turkey. In this context, the enterococcal load was determined as between 1.0 and 2.5 log CFU/g in 39 of a total of 397 samples. It was determined that 117 strains isolated from the samples belonged to Enterococcus gallinarum, E. casseliflavus, E. durans, E. faecium, and E. faecalis species. Erythromycin, tetracycline, streptomycin, and gentamicin resistance was observed, whereas the tetM, ermB, aac(6')-aph(2'')-la genes were found in a majority of the isolates. It was also determined that the isolates carried the agg2 and gelE virulence genes. When all these results are evaluated, the presence of these isolates in aquatic products may pose a risk in terms of food safety and public health.
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The data of the study are available and transparent.
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Acknowledgements
This research was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Project no. 215O374). The authors are also grateful to Prof. Dr. Gülşen Altuğ from the Department of Marine Biology, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, İstanbul University, Turkey, for supplying the VITEK 2 Compact System.
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This research was supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Project no. 215O374).
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All authors have participated the experimental and writing parts of the study. Spesifically, Dr. Mine Çardak, Dr. Sine Özmen Toğay, Onur Karaalioğlu and Dr. Ufuk Bağcı were included in the study about sampling, isolation, identification and determination of antibiotic resistance characteristics of enterococcal isolates. Dr. Mustafa Ay and Dr. Özlem Erol Tınaztepe worked out the molecular experiments for screening of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes in enterococcal strains.
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Çardak, M., Özmen Toğay, S., Ay, M. et al. Antibiotic resistance and virulence genes in Enterococcus species isolated from raw and processed seafood. J Food Sci Technol 59, 2884–2893 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-021-05313-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-021-05313-z