熊源粪肠球菌小鼠感染模型的建立及其毒力基因的检测

建立了熊源粪肠球菌(Enterococcus faecalis)感染BALB/c小鼠模型,并对熊源粪肠球菌的毒力基因进行检测,同时观察死亡小鼠内脏器官的组织病理学变化。结果:熊源粪肠球菌可以引起小鼠内脏组织发生不同程度的炎性细胞浸润,其对小鼠的LD_(50)为2.04×10~7 cfu/只;通过PCR可检测出胶原蛋白黏附素(ace)、心内膜炎抗原(efaA)、EF3314和明胶酶E(gelE)等毒力基因。研究表明,本试验成功建立了粪肠球菌小鼠感染模型,为熊源粪肠球菌的发病机制研究奠定了基础。     

猪源肠球菌明胶液化表型与5种毒力基因的检测分析

为探究明胶液化的表型与其5种毒力基因在不同来源和不同种属猪肠球菌中的分布差异,本研究采用PCR方法以及明胶液化试验对湖南分离的375株肠球菌携带的明胶酶基因(gelE)、调控gelE表达的毒力基因反应调节子基因(fsrA)、前肽加工蛋白基因(fsrB)、组氨酸激酶基因(fsrC)、丝氨酸蛋白酶基因(sprE)共5种毒力基因的分布情况以及液化明胶现象进行检测。结果显示,共263株肠球菌检测到了毒力基因,检出率分别为41.3%(gelE)、45.9%(fsrA)、50.9%(fsrB)、48.8%(fsrC)、48.8%(sprE)。能够同时检测到5种毒力基因的菌株共有110株,其中粪肠球菌106株,且该5种毒力基因在106株粪肠球菌中的检出率均为最高,另外4株为其它肠球菌。在明胶液化试验中,共有155株肠球菌检测到gelE基因,但只有106株能够发生明胶液化现象,且这些菌株正是能够同时检测到5种毒力基因的106株粪肠球菌,而另外4株能够同时检测到5种毒力基因的其它肠球菌却不能发生明胶液化现象。结果表明,粪肠球菌是肠球菌中主要携带毒力基因的菌属,与屎肠球菌以及其它肠球菌相比,更容易出现液化明胶的表型,这可能与粪肠球菌中某些明胶液化的机制有关,且除gelE外,参与gelE表达的几种毒力基因对该表型的出现也具有一定的影响。     

鸡源粪肠球菌生物膜形成能力与明胶酶E毒力基因相关性研究

为了探讨粪肠球菌明胶酶E(gelE)基因对粪肠球菌生物膜形成能力的影响,试验取鸡源粪肠球菌50株,设计特异性引物,通过PCR扩增粪肠球菌毒力基因gelE;利用96微孔板结晶紫染色法在595 nm波长下测定其OD值,对gelE基因和生物膜进行相关性分析。结果表明:有78%(39/50)的粪肠球菌呈生物膜阳性,22%(11/50)的粪肠球菌呈生物膜阴性;82%(41/50)的粪肠球菌呈gelE基因阳性,18%(9/50)的粪肠球菌呈gelE基因阴性,粪肠球菌毒力基因gelE和生物膜具有一致性。说明粪肠球菌gelE基因能够调控生物膜的形成。     

鸡源粪肠球菌对雏鸡致病力试验和毒力基因gelE及efaA的检测

为了解凉山地区鸡源粪肠球菌毒力基因gelE和efaA的基因表达情况,对毒力基因进行检测和致病力试验。通过实验室提供的粪肠球菌10株,进行致病力试验,结果显示,雏鸡死亡率为0～100%,存在较大差异;进行毒力基因gelE(432 bp)、efaA(591 bp)的检测,10株粪肠球菌阳性率均为100%。根据NCBI的基因序列进行粪肠球菌毒力基因gelE、efaA的同源性比对结果均为100%。     

感染仔猪粪肠球菌不同分离株的鉴定及毒力基因检测

从近年来河南省各地感染发病猪群的肠球菌分离株中,选取来源不同且具有代表性的5株分离菌进行了包括致病性和毒力基因测定在内的系统鉴定。结果表明,引起本次河南省仔猪感染发病的病原体为粪肠球菌。各地分离菌的形态、培养特性与以及对极端环境的耐受性上表现较为一致,而对各种糖的发酵上存在着的差异;对药物万古霉素、替考拉宁、利福平和氨苄西林敏感,而对临床常用药物红霉素、卡那霉素和四环素完全耐药;经16S rRNA测定,它们与粪肠球菌ATCC29212同源性在99.6%～99.8%之间,与GenBank公布的NC_004668、AJ301831的核苷酸同源性为99.7%～99.9%和99.5%～99.7%;通过对它们2种毒力表型和携带的6种主要毒力基因以及与对小鼠的LD50测定,发现5株粪肠球菌携带毒力基因不尽相同,携带全部6种毒力基因的HE1和HE5的致病力最强,而仅携带4种毒力基因的HE41致病力最小。用HE1和HE5分离菌对20日龄的断奶仔猪分别进行攻毒,2菌株均能引起仔猪的感染发病。     

湖南健康猪源与流行性腹泻病猪肠球菌毒力基因检测分析

为研究猪流行性腹泻(PED)病猪群中肠球菌及其携带毒力基因的变化情况,本研究采用PCR方法对115株猪源肠球菌检测其11种毒力基因的分布情况及进行了其溶血试验和明胶液化试验。结果,共检测到9种毒力基因:EF3314、efaA、gelE、ace、asal、cylA、esp、Hyl和EF0591,其中asa373和AS未检测到。72株健康猪源分离菌中毒力基因检出率分别为12.5%、9.7%、5.6%、2.8%、13.9%、4.2%、8.3%、15.3%和1.4%。43株PED病猪分离菌毒力基因阳性率分别为20.9%、25.6%、2.3%、18.6%、51.2%、11.6%、20.9%、0和7.0%。溶血试验结果显示115株肠球菌中溶血的占88.7%,其中α-溶血占40%,β-溶血占48.7%,共有8株检测到溶血素A基因(clyA),检出率为6.9%。11株粪肠球菌全部表现溶血,其中健康猪源分离株为α-溶血,PEDV感染猪分离株为β-溶血。明胶液化试验表明115株肠球菌中只有两株能液化明胶,均为粪肠球菌,一株为健康猪源分离株,一株为PEDV感染猪分离株,而且从这两株菌中均检测到了明胶酶E(gelE)基因。表明PED猪源肠球菌毒力基因检出率明显高于健康猪源肠球菌(p0.05)。明胶液化试验和溶血试验结果表明,粪肠球菌的这两种表型与基因型为肠球菌种中表达一致性是最高的,其携带毒力基因为肠球菌中所占比例最高。通过两种不同来源肠球菌毒力基因的比较,为PED的分析治疗与防控提供依据。     

广东省养禽场肠球菌耐药性及毒力因子流行分布特征

旨在调查和分析广东省养禽场肠球菌的亚型屎肠球菌和粪肠球菌耐药性及其毒力因子流行分布特征,为控制禽源肠球菌耐药性传播、保障公共卫生安全提供理论依据。作者于2018年从广东省4个养禽场采集肠道样品493份,进行屎肠球菌和粪肠球菌的分离鉴定;采用琼脂二倍稀释法测定肠球菌的最小抑菌浓度（MIC）;PCR方法检测肠球菌的耐药基因和毒力基因。结果显示：1）共分离到125株肠球菌,其中粪肠球菌84株（鸡源66株,鸭源18株）;屎肠球菌41株,均来自鸡肠道样本。2）菌株对四环素、多西环素、红霉素几乎全部耐药,对氟苯尼考和氯霉素的耐药率高达89.60%和74.40%。屎肠球菌耐药率普遍高于粪肠球菌,而粪肠球菌对环丙沙星和利奈唑胺的耐药率高于屎肠球菌;鸭源粪肠球菌对利奈唑胺的耐药率（94%）显著高于鸡源粪肠球菌（39.4%）,屎肠球菌对利奈唑胺均敏感。从鸡分离的1株粪肠球菌对万古霉素耐药。3）耐药基因在屎肠球菌中的检出率高于粪肠球菌,鸭源分离株检出率高于鸡源。耐药基因tetL、fexA、ermB最为流行,检出率均高于90%。其次是optrA基因,检出率为73.60%,poxtA和fexB的检出率均低于20%。在3株鸭源粪肠球菌中检测出cfr基因。4）已检测的毒力基因中efaA的携带率最高,为63.04%（58/92）,其他依次为gelE（54.35%,50/92）、ace（47.83%,44/92）、asa1（44.57%,41/92）。对环丙沙星及高浓度氨基糖苷类耐药的菌株及携带cfr基因的菌株,大多携带agg、asal、gelE或ace。本研究显示养殖场禽源肠球菌耐药严重,鸭源肠球菌对利奈唑胺耐药率高,耐药基因和毒力基因流行且多样,且检测出人医临床重要抗生素耐药基因,应加强对养禽场肠球菌耐药性监测。     

鸽源屎肠球菌的分离鉴定及药敏试验

屎肠球菌属于肠球菌属中的一类,肠球菌是一种重要的条件致病菌,目前已发现的肠球菌种已经增至近32种,常见的是粪肠球菌（E.faecalis）、屎肠球菌（E.faecium）、鸟肠球菌（E.avium）、坚韧肠球菌（E.durans）等,其中具有临床意义的主要是粪肠球菌与屎肠球菌.肠球菌在动物和人的肠道中属于正常存在的菌群,但是异位寄生于各器官时也会引起相应的感染.肠球菌属中的粪肠球菌（旧称粪链球菌）以及屎肠球菌（旧称屎链球菌）一般情况下没有致病性,并且多年来一直用于微生态制剂加以利用,主要配合益生菌制成,可以替代抗生素预防和治疗动物的一些消化道疾病.但是粪肠球菌和屎肠球菌的某些菌株以及肠球菌的某些成员与动物致病性有关,如禽肠球菌（E.avium）、粪肠球菌（E.facalis）、屎肠球菌（E.faecium）、鸡肠球菌（E.gallinarum）.肠球菌可以感染各种年龄阶段的禽,其中屎肠球菌临床上能引起禽的败血症.屎肠球菌在鸡的饲养环境中也普遍存在,能够引起各种日龄的鸡发病[5].本次屎肠球菌感染鸽主要表现为精神沉郁、食欲下降、机体消瘦、腹泻、零星死亡,可初步断定为慢性感染的表现形式.     

J亚群禽白血病病毒与粪肠球菌混合感染的诊断及相关基因分析

为了解贵阳市某养殖场J亚群禽白血病病毒(Avian leukosis virus,ALV)gp85基因的变异情况及粪肠球菌(Enterococcus faecalis,EF)毒力基因的携带情况,本研究对该养殖场ALV与粪肠球菌混合感染的病例展开了病原学调查分析,采集病料进行病毒核酸检测、gp85基因克隆测序分析、核苷酸序列相似性分析、细菌分离鉴定、毒力基因检测等。结果显示,成功克隆出ALV gp85基因并分离鉴定出1株粪肠球菌,分别命名为GZM52021株和GZEF2021株。ALV核酸检测仅在约422 bp处出现特异性扩增条带,说明存在ALV-J感染;成功克隆ALV gp85基因,且GZM52021株与J亚群参考毒株gp85基因(GenBank登录号为KM655820、KF796654、JN378888和Z46390)的相似性较高,在97.9%~98.2%之间;gp85基因核苷酸序列遗传进化树构建结果与相似性结果一致。GZEF2021株在LB 固体平板上长出圆形凸起、不透明的乳白色菌落,在鲜血琼脂平板上有明显的溶血现象,革兰氏染色镜检为球形或卵圆形阳性链状球菌;16S rRNA测序结果显示,GZEF2021株与粪肠球菌(GenBank登录号为KJ626240、MT611693、KY399248、MH919370、MN379663和KU937389)的相似性均在99%以上;药敏试验结果显示,GZEF2021株对头孢哌酮、青霉素、哌拉西林和羧苄西林4种药物敏感,对复方新诺明、头孢拉定、头孢唑啉3种药物中度敏感,对新霉素、丁胺卡那、多西环素和米诺环素4种药物耐药;毒力基因检测显示,GZEF2021株携带有ace、gelE、asa1、EF3314和efaA 5个毒力基因,说明从鸡中分离出的粪肠球菌可能具有一定的致病性。该病死鸡存在J亚群ALV与粪肠球菌共同感染的情况,本试验结果可为了解J亚群ALV和粪肠球菌在贵州的流行趋势及其混合感染的诊治提供一定的参考资料。     

北京地区腹泻犬、健康犬粪便粪肠球菌耐药性、毒力基因及多位点序列分型研究

为分析分离自北京地区腹泻犬、健康犬粪便的粪肠球菌的耐药性,研究2种犬粪便来源优势分子型粪肠球菌重要毒力基因携带情况,在中国农业大学教学动物医院收集犬粪便,并分离得到腹泻犬粪便源粪肠球菌45株,健康犬粪便源粪肠球菌32株,采用琼脂稀释法测定分离菌株对12种抗生素的最小抑菌浓度,用多位点序列分型(MLST)技术进行分子分型,并利用PCR方法检测优势分子型粪肠球菌5种不同毒力基因携带情况。结果显示,腹泻犬源和健康犬源粪肠球菌对四环素、多西环素、米诺环素、红霉素、利福平耐药率较高。腹泻犬源分离株对氯霉素、氨苄西林、阿莫西林克拉维酸、呋喃妥因耐药率较低,集中于8.9%～17.8%,对万古霉素不耐药;健康犬源分离株对青霉素、呋喃妥因耐药率较低,分别为4.8%和14.3%,对氨苄西林、阿莫西林克拉维酸、万古霉素不耐药。45株腹泻犬源粪肠球菌共发现15种序列型(ST),优势ST为ST116、ST16、ST179,32株健康犬源粪肠球菌发现18种ST,优势ST为ST16和ST27,2种来源优势ST粪肠球菌agg、gelE、cylB、esp、efaAs毒力基因检出率差异不显著(P0.05)。表明北京地区腹泻犬、健康犬肠道粪肠球菌多重耐药现象严重,需加强抗生素使用的监控和管理;腹泻犬、健康犬肠道粪肠球菌毒力基因携带率差异不显著,都具有向人传播致病性粪肠球菌的风险,兽医临床医护人员和宠物犬饲养人应注意防护。     

屎肠球菌的特性及其在畜牧生产中的应用研究进展

随着对畜产品需求的增加,人们越来越重视畜产品的安全性。屎肠球菌为常见乳酸菌,是近年来研究较多的益生菌,其代谢产物对病原菌的抑制、肠道菌群稳定和家畜生长具有重要意义,已广泛应用于畜牧生产中,但耐药性和致病性屎肠球菌的相继发现,引发了公众的担忧。因此,如何合理、规范应用屎肠球菌是其在畜牧生产中应用的关键。本文综述了屎肠球菌的生物学特性及其在畜牧生产中的应用研究进展,但抗生素耐药性屎肠球菌的发现,使得屎肠球菌的应用更为谨慎。     

2017-2021年上海市动物源粪肠球菌、屎肠球菌耐药性情况变迁分析

为了解上海地区动物源粪肠球菌、屎肠球菌对常见抗菌药物的耐药及其最小抑菌浓度(minimal inhibitory concentration,MIC)变迁情况,采用微量肉汤稀释法对近五年采集的粪肠球菌、屎肠球菌进行10种常见抗菌药物敏感性测试。结果表明,458株粪肠球菌及283株屎肠球菌对头孢西丁、头孢噻呋及氧氟沙星耐药率较高(均高于60%),对青霉素、阿莫西林/克拉维酸及万古霉素的耐药率较低(均低于11%),粪肠球菌耐药率整体高于屎肠球菌,两者对氧氟沙星、头孢噻呋、氟苯尼考、庆大霉素、利奈唑胺、恩诺沙星的耐药率存在较大差异（耐药率差异为15%~44%）。五年间,粪肠球菌对阿莫西林/克拉维酸、氧氟沙星的MIC50及MIC90均呈下降趋势;屎肠球菌对阿莫西林/克拉维酸、头孢西丁及氟苯尼考的MIC50及MIC90均呈下降趋势。研究表明,近年来上海地区动物源粪肠球菌、屎肠球菌的耐药情况有好转趋势,仍需继续加强肠球菌耐药性监测。     

Isolation,Identification and Drug Resistance Analysis of Pathogenic Enterococcus feacium of Sheep

To further identify the pathogenic strains and analyze their antibiotic resistance, the methods of pathogen isolating, the methods of Gram staining, biochemical tests and 16S rRNA PCR amplification, virulence tests, drug sensitive tests, virulence genes and resistance genes PCR amplification were used. The results showed that the strain was Gram-positive and revealed positive after reacting with 6.5% NaCl, melibiose, sucrose and etc., while revealed negative reactions with VP, hippurate, arabinose and etc.. It showed 100% similarity with Enterococcus feacium 16S rRNA gene sequence in GenBank after PCR amplification of 16S rRNA gene and BLAST alignment. It was found severe pathogenicity after virulence tests in mice. The strain was highly resistant to oxacillin, penicillin G of β-lactam antibiotics and norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin of quinolones antibiotics and tetracycline, while was sensitive to antibiotics of erythromycin, vancomycin and clindamycin. It revealed that virulence factor genes Asal, cylA, acm and resistance genes TetM, ant(6)-Ⅰ, aac(6')-aph (2"), ermB showed positive. The results showed that the bacteria was Enterococcus feacium, it had a strong pathogenicity and severe drug resistance, which might be related to the highly positive rates of virulence genes and drug resistance genes.     

Characterization of antibiotic resistance genes and virulence factors in faecal enterococci of wild animals in Portugal

Antibiotic susceptibility was tested in 140 non-selected enterococci (73 Enterococcus faecalis, 45 E. faecium and 22 of other species) recovered from faecal samples of 77 wild animals in Portugal. Susceptibility testing for 11 antibiotics (vancomycin, teicoplanin, ampicillin, streptomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, erythromycin, quinupristin-dalfopristin and ciprofloxacin) was determined by disk diffusion and agar dilution methods. Forty-four isolates (31.4%) showed susceptibility to all the antibiotics tested (5.5% of E. faecalis; 62.2% of E. faecium; and 78.6% of E. hirae). Neither ampicillin-resistance nor acquired-vancomycin-resistance was detected and 1.4% of the isolates showed high-level-resistance for gentamicin or streptomycin. Tetracycline and erythromycin resistances were shown in 28.6% and 20.1% of the isolates, respectively. Antibiotic resistance genes were studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing and tet(M) + tet(L), erm(B) or aac(6')-aph(2') genes were detected in most of tetracycline-, erythromycin- or gentamicin-resistant enterococci respectively. Genes encoding virulence factors were studied by PCR and a wide variety of virulence genes were detected in most of E. faecalis isolates but were rarely found in E. faecium and not detected in the other species. The prevalence of genes encoding virulence factors in E. faecalis was as follows: cpd (98.6%), gelE (75.3%), agg (30.1%), fsr (17.8%), ace (9.6%) and esp (4.1%). Low percentages of antibiotic resistance was found in the faecal enterococci of wild animals but a wide variety of virulence genes were detected among E. faecalis isolates although were rare in the other species.     

肠球菌研究进展

肠球菌(Enterococcus)是革兰阳性、过氧化氢酶阴性球菌,是人和动物肠道内主要常存菌群.该菌可引起群体致病和医院交叉感染,临床上表现为尿路感染、菌血症、心内膜炎等,加之许多报道显示肠球菌对多种抗生素都有耐药性和具有较强的致病性,因此越来越受到人们的关注.论文从生物学特性、毒力因子、耐药性、流行病学、临床检测等方...     

微量环丙沙星对人源大肠杆菌和粪肠球菌体外敏感性的影响

建立人离体肠道模拟模型，研究微量环丙沙星对人源肠道大肠杆菌和粪肠球菌敏感性的影响，进而用聚合酶链反应法扩增耐药菌的gyrA基因的耐药决定区，并分析其耐药机制。结果显示，大肠杆菌连续培养后存活菌株对微量环丙沙星耐药，此耐药菌对其他抗菌药敏感；粪肠球菌绎连续培养，对环丙沙星和其他抗菌药物仍敏感；耐药大肠杆菌的gyrA基因发生突变，248位碱基由C变为T，259位由G变为T，相应地，该基因编码的蛋白质在83位的丝氨酸和87位的天冬氨酸分别改变为亮氨酸和酪氨酸。研究表明，微量环丙沙星对人肠道菌群具有不同的选择作用，能诱导大肠杆菌产生耐药性。这为动物源食品中环丙沙星残留的安全性评价提供了试验依据。     

Analysis of Ribosome Genotyping and Antimicrobial Resistance in Enterococcus faecalis Isolated from Pigs and Chickens

This study was to investigate the ribosome genotyping and antimicrobial resistance in Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from 2 large-scale farms in Shanghai.40 isolates were evaluated for their sensitivity to 12 antimicrobial agents by broth microdilution,and the ribosome genotyping (ribotype) was characterized by the Riboprinter^® Microbial Characterization System.The resistance rates of most antimicrobial drug were relatively high and multidrug resistant strains were detected with more than 80%.4 strains of Enterococcus faecalis isolated from pigs were resistant to vancomycin,including 2 strains of vancomycin highly resistant (MIC>64 mg/L) with the same time highly resistant to gentamicin and streptomycin (MIC>2 048 mg/L).The results showed that multidrug resistance of Enterococcus faecalis was a serious issue,and the resistant phenotypes of the same type of ribotype was not entirely consistent.     

Isolation，Identification and Antibiotics Resistance Analysis of Enterococcus from Yak

17 feces samples of yak which were collected in Hongyuan county were measured with Gram staining method and 16S rRNA molecular identification in this study.8 suspected Enterococcus were separate from feces samples by bacteria purification and PCR amplification with 1 500 bp specific band. 6Enterococcus faecalis and 2Enterococcus faecium were identified through 16S rRNA sequencing.The homology analysis of the strains revealed that the homology between Enterococcus faecalis and reference strains sequence were 99.7% to 100%,that of Enterococcus faecium and reference sequence were 98.2% to 99.2%,indicating that the yak Enterococcus was highly conserved in the process of genetic evolution.The drug sensitive test results showed that the isolated strains were highly resistance to aminoglycoside antibiotics.Enterococcus faecium 11-1-2 strain was not only 5 multi-resistant,but also showed resistence to vancomycin.Enterococcus faecalis strains was most 3 multi-resistant.The antibiotics resistance results revealed that the resistance of yak Enterococcus was serious and should be taken seriously.     

新疆北疆地区猪源粪肠球菌的耐药性分析

为了解新疆北疆地区猪源粪肠球菌的耐药性及相关耐药基因型的分布情况,本试验采用K-B（Kirby-Baller）琼脂扩散法检测了49株猪源粪肠球菌对8种抗菌药物的敏感性,并采用PCR法对9种相关耐药基因进行检测并测序,测序结果与GenBank中的相应基因序列比对。药敏试验结果显示,分离菌对链霉素耐药率最高,其次为青霉素和红霉素,对呋喃妥因、氨苄西林高度敏感。PCR检测结果显示,β-内酰胺类耐药基因tem的检出率最高,为93.88%,其次是四环素类耐药基因tetM,为85.71%,喹诺酮类基因gyrA和parC检出率均为42.86%,氨基糖苷类耐药基因aph（3'）-Ⅲ、aac（6'）/aph2″和ant（6'）-Ⅰ的检出率分别为36.73%、16.33%和16.33%,未检出mefA和ermB基因。本试验从表型与基因型分析发现,北疆地区猪源粪肠球菌的多重耐药现象非常严重,且其耐药表型与基因型并不完全一致。     

Antimicrobial and heavy metal resistance in commensal enterococci isolated from pigs

Antibiotic resistance in animal isolates of enterococci is of public health concern because of the risk of transfer of antibiotic resistance isolates or resistance determinants to consumers via the food chain. In this study, phenotypic and genotypic resistance in 192 pig isolates of enterococci to ampicillin, avilamycin, avoparcin, bacitracin, flavophospholipol, gentamicin, narasin, tetracycline, tiamulin, tylosin, vancomycin, virginiamycin, copper and zinc were investigated by susceptibility test and molecular methods. Resistance rates varied between the species but all isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, avilamycin, avoparcin, gentamicin and narasin but resistant to tetracycline and tylosin and intermediately resistant to copper. Only Enterococcus gallinarum and Enterococcus casseliflavus were resistant to vancomycin and virginiamycin resistance was present in less than half the Enterococcus faecium isolates. Zinc resistance was largely confined to Enterococcus faecalis but bacitracin resistance was uncommon in E. faecalis in comparison with the other species. Tiamulin resistance was common in all species except E. casseliflavus. Resistance to flavophospholipol was detected in most E. faecium isolates and in a high proportion of E. gallinarum, E. casseliflavus and E. hirae/durans but was only found in one isolate of E. faecalis. No tetO, rplC, rplD, vanA, vanB, vatA and vatD genes were found. The presence of ermB, tetL, tetM, tcrB, aac6-aph2, tetK, tetS, vanC1, vanC2, lsaA, lsaB and vatE varied between the species and largely corresponded to the susceptibility phenotype. The findings show that resistance to antibiotics of high clinical significance for nosocomial Enterococcus infections is absent, whereas antimicrobial resistance was detected for some other antibiotics including bacitracin, flavophospholipol, tetracycline, tiamulin, tylosin and virginiamycin.