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This study evaluated the prevalence, antimicrobial susceptibility, and virulence potential of enterococci in poultry and their environment in the area. Swab samples from chicken (370) cloacae and soil (46) were subjected to standard culture. Isolates identified biochemically were subjected to an antibiogram using 10 antimicrobial agents and their potential virulence determinants were assessed using standard procedures. Enterococcal species were isolated from 97.84% and 65.22% of the cloacal and soil samples, respectively. Resistance to the following antimicrobial agents was observed in the isolates: quinu prist quinupristin-dalfopristin (46.4%), erythromycin (51.2%), chloramphenicol (46.4%), vancomycin (20.2%), enrofloxacin (13.1%), linezolid (8.3%), teicoplanin (7.2%), and levofloxacin (5.95%). Totally 31 resistance patterns were detected, and 27 showed multiple resistance patterns. Enterococcal strains from soil demonstrated higher antimicrobial resistance than chicken strains, except for levofloxacin and linezolid. None of the strains showed resistance to high-level gentamicin and streptomycin. Phenotypic expression of enterococcal virulence revealed the following: surface layer, 70%; gelatinase production, 60%; biofilm, 55%; β-hemolysis, 32.5%; DNase production, 20%, and protease production, 37.5%. This study revealed that poultry and their environment had virulent enterococci with multiple drug resistance.
Cite this article as: Ezeh, G. C., Ogugua, A. J., Anyanwu, M. U., Awoyomi, O. J., & Nwanta, J. A. (2023). Prevalence, antimicrobial resistance, and virulence determinants of enterococci in poultries in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Acta Veterinaria Eurasia, 49(1), 26-35.