Evaluation of antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic profiles (ERIC-PCR) of Enterococcus species isolated from chicken viscera

The genus Enterococcus can be found in water, soil, and food, and above all, they are part of the animal (including human) intestinal microbiota. Food prevalence is mainly due to their resistance to adverse environmental conditions. Seventy-three isolates from chicken viscera were confirmed to belong to the Enterococcus genus by biochemical tests and carbohydrate fermentation. Phenotypic characterization of the species indicates that E. casseliflavus was the predo-minant specie. Antimicrobial resistance to amikacin (42 %), kanamycin (38 %), streptomycin (55 %) and erythromycin (33 %) in the isolates was notorious. The analysis obtained from ERIC-PCR profiles shows a high genetic variability among the isolates. In addition, a relationship between the antimicrobial and ERIC-PCR profiles was observed among isolates. These results indicate the presence of multi-resistant Enterococcus in commercial chicken viscera with high genetic variability, which could be a potential nosocomial bacterium or transfer this resistance to another pathogenic species causing human diseases.