@article {18426,
	title = {Molecular characterization of antibiotic resistance in enterococci recovered from seagulls (Larus cachinnans) representing an environmental health problem},
	journal = {Journal of Environmental Monitoring},
	volume = {13},
	year = {2011},
	month = {2011-08-01 00:00:00},
	pages = {2227-2233},
	abstract = {<p>Antimicrobial resistance and the mechanisms implicated were studied in 54 enterococci recovered from 57 seagull fecal samples. Almost 78\% of the recovered enterococci showed resistance against one or more antibiotics and these isolates were identified to the species level. E. faecium was the most prevalent species (52.4\%). High percentages of erythromycin and tetracycline resistances were found among our isolates (95.2\%), and lower percentages were identified to other antibiotics. Most of the tetracycline-resistant strains carried the tet(M) and/or tet(L) genes. Genes associated with Tn916/Tn1545 and/or Tn5397 transposons were detected in 45\% of tetracycline-resistant isolates. The erm(B) gene was detected in 65\% of erythromycin-resistant isolates. The vat(D) and vat(E) genes were present in 5.9\% and 11.8\% of quinupristin/dalfopristin-resistant isolates, respectively. The ant(6)-Ia gene was identified in 57.1\% of streptomycin-resistant isolates. All nine kanamycin-resistant isolates carried the aph(3){\textquoteright}-IIIa gene. The cat(A) gene was found in two chloramphenicol-resistant isolates. Seagulls should be considered a risk species for spreading in the environment antimicrobial resistant enterococci and can serve as a sentinel for antibiotic pressure from the surrounding farm and urban setting.</p>},
	keywords = {Antimicrobial resistance, Enterococci, seagulls},
	author = {Radhouani, H. and Igrejas, G. and Pinto, L. and Gon{\c c}alves, A. and Coelho, C. and Rodrigues, J. and Poeta, P.}
}
