Draft Genome Sequences of Four Enterococcus cecorum Strains Isolated from American Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) and Harris's Hawk (Parabuteo unicinctus) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

We report the draft genome sequences of four Enterococcus cecorum strains obtained from cloacal swab specimens collected from three healthy captive wild birds (two Coragyps atratus and one Parabuteo unicinctus) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The genome sizes ranged from 2.38 to 2.55 Mb.

Draft Genome Sequences of Two Commensal Enterococcus faecalis Strains Isolated from American Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) in Brazil.

We report the draft genome sequences of two commensal Enterococcus faecalis strains (designated Ca-2 and Ca-18) recovered from the cloacae of two healthy American black vultures (Coragyps atratus) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The strains were found to carry a variety of antimicrobial resistance and virulence-associated genes.

Expression of VanA-type vancomycin resistance in a clinical isolate of Enterococcus faecium showing insertion of IS19 in the vanS gene.

The characteristics of an unusual clinical isolate of Enterococcus faecium (CL-6729) showing insertion of IS19 (also known as ISEfm1) in the vanS gene while maintaining a constitutive VanA phenotype are described. This isolate was obtained from a hospital-acquired urinary tract infection, showed multidrug resistance by antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and belongs to ST78 based on multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Except for the vanS gene, all the other genes of the vanA gene cluster were intact according to conventional PCR, overlapping PCR and genome sequencing. By quantitative reverse transcription PCR (RT-qPCR), the isolate showed similar expression of the vanA, vanR and vanS genes in the presence and absence of vancomycin. The results suggest that insertion of IS19 in the vanS gene may be associated with constitutive expression of resistance to vancomycin in clinical isolate CL-6729, either by not impairing VanS activity or by inducing the emergence of another pathway that acts on vanA expression, which still needs to be fully investigated.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica Strain Isolated from Frozen Chicken in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil.

Here, we report the draft genome sequence of Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica strain 20, isolated from a chicken carcass originated from indoor broiler farming and identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry followed by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.

Draft Genome Sequence of Multidrug-Resistant Enterococcus faecium Strain E1298, with a Sequence Type 1274 Profile, Recovered from the Cloacal Microbiome of a Tropical Screech Owl (Megascops choliba) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Here, we present the draft genome sequence of Enterococcus faecium strain E1298, a representative of the clonal complex 17 (CC17), identified as sequence type 1274 (ST1274) and resistant to multiple classes of antimicrobials, isolated from the cloaca of a tropical screech owl (Megascops choliba) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Draft Genome Sequence of Enterococcus faecium CL-6729, a Clinical Isolate Showing Constitutive Vancomycin Resistance.

Here, we present the draft genome sequence of an unusual Enterococcus faecium isolate (CL-6729) showing constitutive expression of the VanA type of vancomycin resistance. The isolate was recovered from a patient with a nosocomial urinary tract infection in Brazil.

Distribution of species and antimicrobial resistance among enterococci isolated from the fecal microbiota of captive blue-fronted parrot (Amazona aestiva) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Enterococcal strains recovered from fecal samples of captive blue-fronted parrots (Amazona aestiva) assisted at two wild animal screening centers in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were identified as Enterococcus hirae (the predominant species; 75.3%), followed by Enterococcus faecalis (17.3%), Enterococcus casseliflavus (4.8%), Enterococcus gallinarum (1.7%), and Enterococcus hermanniensis (0.9%). All strains were susceptible to linezolid and teicoplanin. Rates of nonsusceptibility (including resistant and intermediate categories) to other 16 antimicrobials tested varied from 69.3% to 0.4%, A considerable proportion (48.0%) of the strains was multidrug-resistant and diverse genetic determinants associated with antimicrobial resistance were identified. Tetracycline-resistant strains carried the tet(M) and/or tet(L) genes. Macrolides resistance was associated with the erm(B), erm(A) and mefA genes, while 43.2% of the isolates were negative for the investigated genes. High-level resistance to gentamicin associated with the aac(6')-le-aph(2″)-la gene was detected in one E. faecalis strain. The two strains presenting high-level resistance to streptomycin were negative for the ant(6')-Ia, ant(3')-Ia, ant(9')-Ia and ant(9')-Ib genes. The vat(D) gene was found in all the 47 quinupristin/dalfopristin resistant strains identified as non-E. faecalis. Analysis of PFGE profiles of E. hirae strains after restriction with SmaI demonstrated the occurrence of five clonal groups. The predominant E. hirae clone was distributed among birds in the two institutions, suggesting that this clone was well adapted to the host and environments investigated. The four clonal groups identified among E. faecalis were composed by small numbers of strains and, generally, restricted to birds in the same sector. The occurrence of enterococcal strains exhibiting antimicrobial resistance traits and carrying genetic determinants that represent potential threats to the health of both humans and animals, in the intestinal microbiota of A. aestiva, highlights the need for additional monitoring studies to elucidate the population structure and the dynamics of transmission of these microorganisms among animals, humans and the environment.

Emergence and characterisation of vanB vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Here we describe the detection and characterisation of three isolates of vancomycin-resistant VanB-type Enterococcus faecalis. Sequence analysis suggested that these isolates harboured the vanB1 gene. The isolates were susceptible to the majority of antimicrobial agents tested, with the exception of chloramphenicol, erythromycin and vancomycin, and showed distinct profiles of high-level resistance to aminoglycosides. Analysis of the clonal relatedness of the vanB E. faecalis isolates showed similar pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of enterococcal strains carrying vanB genes in Brazil.

Emergence and characterisation of vanB vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Here we describe the detection and characterisation of three isolates of vancomycin-resistant VanB-type Enterococcus faecalis. Sequence analysis suggested that these isolates harboured the vanB1 gene. The isolates were susceptible to the majority of antimicrobial agents tested, with the exception of chloramphenicol, erythromycin and vancomycin, and showed distinct profiles of high-level resistance to aminoglycosides. Analysis of the clonal relatedness of the vanB E. faecalis isolates showed similar pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of enterococcal strains carrying vanB genes in Brazil.