Pathogenic Potential and Antibiotic Susceptibility: A Comprehensive Study of Enterococci from Different Ecological Settings.

The pathway and the lifestyle of known enterococcus species are too complicated. The aim of the present study is to trace the path of pathogenicity of enterococci isolated from seven habitats ( intestine; Bulgarian yoghurt; goat and cow feta cheese-mature and young, respectively; Arabian street food-doner kebab; cow milk; and human breast milk) by comparing their pathogenic potential. In total, 72 enterococcal strains were isolated and identified by MALDI-TOF, sequencing, and PCR. Hemolytic and gelatinase activity were biochemically determined. PCR was carried out for detection of virulence factors (, , , , , , and ) and antibiotic resistance (, , , , , , , , and ). Phenotypic antibiotic resistance was assigned according to EUCAST. Eleven representatives of the genus were identified: , , , , , , , , , , and Twenty-two strains expressed α-hemolysis. Thirteen strains had the gene. Only two strains expressed α-hemolysis and possessed the gene simultaneously. Positive amplification for was found in 35% of the isolates, but phenotypic gelatinase activity was observed only in three strains. All isolates showed varying antibiotic resistance. Only BM15 showed multiple resistance (AMP-HLSR-RP). Correlation between genotypic and phenotypic macrolide resistance was revealed for two strains.