Diversity, antimicrobial characterization and biofilm formation of Enterococci isolated from aquaculture and slaughterhouse sources in Benin City, Nigeria

The present study was designed to characterize Enterococci isolates obtained from water samples at aquaculture and slaughterhouse facilities in Benin City, Nigeria. A total of 144 were collected facilities. All analyzed using classical microbiological molecular-based methods. identified specific primer sets (genus species primers) are as follows: E. faecalis 36 (25.5%); faecium 39 (27.7%); durans 19 (13.4%); casseliflavus 13 (9.2%); hirae 14 (9.9%) other Enterococcus 20 (14.2%). resistance profile the bacterial strains antibiotics [tetracycline (n=67, 47%)]; [vancomycin (n=74, 52%)]; [erythromycin (n=91, 64%)] [penicillin (n=141, 100%)]. virulence genes detected include: [gelE (n=120, 85.1%)]; [cylA (n= 52, 36.9%)]; [hyl (n=96, 68.1%)]; [esp (n=135, 95.8%)]; [ace 127, 90.1%)] [agg n=118, 83.7%)]. Antibiotic-resistant gene phenotypic resistant 55/74 (74.3%) vanA; 61/67 (91.1%) tetC; 122/141 (86.5%) blapse1 62/91 (68.1%) ermA. coupled with biofilm formation potential include penicillin+biofilm 116 (82.3%); erythromycin+biofilm 85 (60.3%); vancomycin+biofilm 74 (52.3%). Findings this reveal that ability forming biofilms have enhanced antimicrobial resistance. Continuous monitoring slaughterhouses is necessary guarantee food safety.
 Key Words: Aquaculture, Biofilm,Enterococcus, Environments, Resistance, Slaughterhouse