Occurrence of multidrug-resistant enterococci in fresh water fishes

Abstract EN

The imprudent use of antibiotics in therapeutics and as growth promoters in aquaculture farms has led to the increasing prevalence of multidrug resistance worldwide.

this study investigated the occurrence and resistance phenotype of enterococci from freshwater fishes.

a total of 120 fishes including (70 nile tilapia and 50 catfish) which showed signs of septicemia (opaque eye, hemorrhage on operculum and around mouth, distended abdomen, as well as hemorrhage and ulceration of the skin) were collected from freshwater farms.

enterococcus faecalis 54 / 72 (75%) was the predominant when compared to E.

faecium 18 / 72 (25%).

antibiotic sensitivity testing as a way to control enterococcus species infection revealed that the recovered isolates were resistant to erythromycin, azithromycin, chloramphenicol (100% each), tetracycline (91.6%) nitrofurantoin (86.1%), and meropenem (44.4%).

meanwhile, all isolates (100%) were sensitive to linezolid and ampicillin (81.9%).

in conclusion, the high occurrence of enterococcus species in fishes, its antibiotic resistance is diversified, indicating a higher risk of infection and raising worries about its public health significance.

antibiotic stewardship in the fish business is now required to avert massive losses in aquaculture owing to MDR enterococci.