Role of the plasmid-encoded tet(O) gene in tetracycline-resistant clinical isolates of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli

The prevalence of tetracycline resistance, tetracycline MICs and tet(O) gene localization were investigated in 83 Campylobacter isolates from patients suffering from acute gastroenteritis in Germany. Combined biochemical and molecular markers identified 74 isolates (89%) as Campylobacter jejuni, including seven atypical isolates that failed to hydrolyse hippurate, and nine isolates (11%) as Campylobacter coli. Tetracycline resistance was detected in six out of nine Campylobacter coli isolates (67%) and 13 out of 74 C. jejuni isolates (18%). Low-level tetracycline resistance was observed for C. coli (MIC 16 mu g ml(-1) for all strains), whereas C. jejuni showed high-level resistance (MIC >256 mu g ml(-1) for all strains). Both low- and high-level tetracycline resistance was associated with the presence of the tet(O) gene. In C. jejuni, tet(O) was plasmid-encoded in 54% of tetracycline-resistant isolates, whereas in C. coli, tet(O) appeared to be located on the chromosome.