Abstract

Little information is available on the diversity and distribution of resistance and virulence factors in Enterococci isolated from camel milk. In this study, 33 samples of camel’s milk collected from the south west region of Algeria were analyzed for the presence of Enterococcus spp. Twenty three (23) enterococcal isolates were recovered. These strains were identified by the API 20 STREP and the sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacramide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) of whole cell protein at the species level: Enterococcus faecalis (n = 11), Enterococcus faecium (n = 8), Enterococcus avium (n = 2), Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis (n = 1) and Streptococcus uberis (n = 1). Fifteen (15) of the 23 isolates exhibited resistance to at least one of the tested antibiotics and six (6) of these 23 isolates were resistant to two antibiotics. None of the isolates were resistant to penicillin, ampicillin, or gentamicin. Resistance to vancomycin (VAN) was found in three (3) isolates which represent (13%), two E. faecalis, and one E. faecium. Six (26%) of Enterococci isolates were resistant to one of these antibiotics: erythromycin (ERI), tetracycline (TET) and rifampin (RIF). In conclusion, this is the first study to underline the importance of camel milk as a reservoir of Enterococcus spp. carrying resistance to vancomycin.

Key words: Camel milk, Enterococcus, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacramide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), antibiotic resistance.