Characterisation of Faecal Staphylococci from Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) and Their Susceptibility to Gallidermin.

Our current knowledge of microbiota in wild ruminants is limited. The goal of this study was to evaluate staphylococcal species in red and roe deer for various attributes (haemolysis, DNase, and urease activities; lactic acid and biofilm production; and antibiotic profile) and their susceptibility to gallidermin. Sixteen staphylococcal strains were identified from faeces of 21 free-living animals (9 adult female Cervus elaphus-red deer and 12 young female Capreolus capreolus-roe deer) sampled by the Polish colleagues in the Strzalowo Forest District, Piska Primaeval Forest. The variability in the species of staphylococci was determined. Seven species (Staphylococcus capitis, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. hominis, S. pseudintermedius, S. vitulinus and S. warneri) and five clusters/groups of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were identified. The strains were generally not haemolytic and Dnase negative; did not form biofilms or only produced low-grade biofilms; exhibited high levels of lactic acid; were urease positive; and were generally susceptible to antibiotics (only two strains were resistant to multiple antibiotics). However, all of the strains were susceptible to the lantibiotic bacteriocin gallidermin, with a minimal inhibitory concentration of 0.0156 µg (up to 6400 AU/ml in arbitrary units). This is the first study to perform a detailed study of the properties of CoNS from roe and red deer.

Domestic fowl of ducks, a source of faecal bioactive Enterococcus hirae strains.

Faecal Enterococcus hirae from domestic ducks were studied for their bioactivity to select bioactive strain for more detailed study with its probable use in poultry and also to bring novelty in basic research. After defecation, faeces (n=23, faecal mixture of 40 ducks) were sampled from domestic ducks in eastern Slovakia; birds were aged from eight to 14 weeks. E. hirae strains were identified using Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of flight mass spectrometry with a highly probable species identification score (2.300-3.000) or a secure genus identification/ /probable species identification score (2.000-2.299), confirmed by polymerase chain reaction and phenotypization in accordance with the properties for the type strain E. hirae ATCC 9790. Strains were hemolysis negative (γ-hemolysis), and did not have active enzyme stimulating disorders. Enterocin genes were detected in three strains out of seven. Three out of four Enterocin genes were detected in Kc1/b (Ent A, P, L50A); the most frequently detected was the Ent P gene. The strains inhibited indicator strains E. faecalis, listeriae, but also Escherichia coli and Buttiauxiella strains. Lactic-acid producing E. hirae were mostly susceptible to antibiotics. Based on parameter evaluation, E. hirae Kc1/b, Kc6 can be additionally studied to select the type of bioactive substance.

Fecal coagulase-negative staphylococci from horses, their species variability, and biofilm formation.

The intestinal microbiota has enormous impact on the health and performance of horses. Staphylococci belong in the phylum Firmicutes, and their occurrence, especially of methicillin-resistant strains and species, has been reported in horses previously. Moreover, biofilm formation is one of the virulence factors; it has been not completely studied in fecal coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) from horses. Therefore, this study was focused on biofilm formation by various species of fecal CoNS from horses because it has been never reported before. In addition, their antibiotic profile was tested. Horses (42) of various breeds from Slovakia/Poland were sampled. Variability in the species of CoNS was detected in feces of horses. Thirty-two strains were identified by using the MALDI-TOF system and classified into nine species and three subspecies of CoNS: Staphylococcus capitis, S. cohnii subsp. cohnii, S. cohnii subsp. urealyticus, S. cohnii subsp. casei, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, S. pasteuri, S. sciuri, S. vitulinus, S. warneri, and S. xylosus. The most frequent species was S. vitulinus. Twenty-two strains showed high biofilm production; 10 strains showed low-grade biofilm production. The highest biofilm formation was measured in the species S. xylosus. Eleven strains (of 32) were methicillin-resistant; the others were susceptible to methicillin.

Assessment of biofilm formation by faecal strains of Enterococcus hirae from different species of animals.

Enterococcus hirae belongs in the Enterococcus faecium group within the genus Enterococcus. This species occurs naturally in the environment, commensally in the alimentary tracts of animals, and pathologically for example in humans with urinary infections. Some strains of E. hirae possess virulence factors, including biofilm formation. Biofilm growth protects bacteria against host de- fences; biofilm can be a source of persistent infection. Testing bacterial strains for their ability to form biofilm might therefore facilitate their treatment or prevention. This study focuses on bio- film formation by E. hirae strains derived from various animals. This kind of testing has never been done before. A total of 64 identified E. hirae from laying hens, ducks, pheasants, ostriches, rabbits, horses and a goat were tested by means of three methods; using Congo red agar, the tube method and microtiter plate agar. The majority of strains were found to form biofilm. 62.5% of strains were biofilm-forming, four categorized as highly positive (OD570 ≥1); most strains were low-grade biofilm positive (0.1 ≤ OD 570 ⟨ 1). Related to poultry, 55 E. hirae strains were tested and found to produce biofilm; 24 strains did not form biofilm, 31 strains were biofilm-forming; 27 strains showed low-grade biofilm formation, and four strains were highly biofilm-forming. Four strains from hens and ostriches reached the highest OD570 values, more than 0.500. Rabbit-de- rived E. hirae strains as well as strains isolated from horses and the goat were low-grade bio- film-forming. Microtiter plate assay proved to be the best tool for testing the in vitro biofilm for- mation capacity of E. hirae strains from different species of animals.