›› 2018, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (6): 1700-1707.doi: 10.16431/j.cnki.1671-7236.2018.06.035

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Study on Florfenicol Resistance and fexA Genetic Environment in Enterococcus from Swine

ZHANG Ping1,2, PENG Linyao1, XU Changwen1, LI Yunxia1, ZHANG Anyun1   

  1. 1. Animal Disease Prevention and Food Safety Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China;
    2. Chengdu Agricultural College, Chengdu 611130, China
  • Received:2017-11-21 Online:2018-06-20 Published:2018-06-15

Abstract:

This study was aimed to investigate the resistance of Enterococcus to florfenicol in pig farms and analyze the florfenicol resistance genes.Also,the gene environments of florfenicol resistant gene fexA in Enterococcus were determined to identify the underlying transmission mechanism.Fifty strains of Enterococcus isolated from a pig farm in Sichuan province were used as the research materials to perform the drug susceptibility test of florfenicol.The florfenicol resistance genes cfr,fexB,fexA,floR and estDL136 were detected by PCR.The information of gene environment of fexA gene was obtained by TAIL-PCR and further analyzed.In addition,the presence of cyclized structure in the sequence was verified by PCR.Meanwhile,the genetic environment of 20 fexA-positive isolates was confirmed by cross-PCR.The results showed that among the 50 strains of Enterococcus,34 were resistant to florfenicol (MIC ≥ 16 mg/L),with a resistant rate of 68%.PCR results showed that 20 strains contained fexA gene,28 strains contained fexB gene,and 14 strains contained both of the two genes.Besides,TAIL-PCR and sequencing showed fexA gene in isolated strain DKC5 was located in the 12 945 bp Tn554 transposon.In particular,the Tn554 transposon could form a cyclized structure and its repeating sequence could also form a local cyclized structure containing 2 395 bp.The resistance rate of Enterococcus from swine to florfenicol was high,and was mainly mediated by fexA and fexB genes.Specifically,fexA gene was located in the Tn554 structure.It was predicted that fexA gene was inserted into DKC5 strain genome sequence by two insertions,which provided a genetic basis for the horizontal transmission of fexA gene.

Key words: Enterococcus; florfenicol; resistance; fexA gene; TAIL-PCR; genetic environment

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