Examination of Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE) Isolated from Canine and Feline Rectal Swabs

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) in dogs and cats, examine the antimicrobial resistance profiles phenotypically, and the distribution of the vancomycin resistance associated genes by PCR. For this purpose, rectal swabs from animals were collected and processed for VRE isolation. After the identification of the isolates, antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates were determined according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) standards. Finally, distribution of the vancomycin resistance associated genes; vanA, vanB, vanC1 and vanC2/C3 were determined by PCR. Totally 157 (86 canine, 71 feline) rectal swab samples were examined. VRE were isolated from 12 canine and 8 feline samples. The VRE isolation rate in companion animals was 12.7%. Antimicrobial susceptibility results varied among the isolates; however, enrofloxacin resistance was common in both species. Multidrug resistance was also detected. As a conclusion, screening of distribution of VRE among pet animals would be useful to detect any emerging antimicrobial resistance problem related to public health.