Study of pathogenicity factors of the genus Enterococcus bacteria isolated from the aquatic environment
S.S. Uskova, A.V. Martynova
Section: Monitoring of natural and anthropogenically disturbed areas
The genus Enterococcus is ubiquitous and included in many ecosystems. To date, the assessment of the role of these microorganisms in ecosystems with and without anthropogenic load remains controversial. Being widespread, these microorganisms have even been considered as sanitary indicators, and at the same time they can be one of the main causes of hospital diseases. This cannot but be absolutely due to changes in the microbiological properties of these bacteria, which are identified by the expression of pathogenicity factors that determines the microecological characteristics of enterococcal strains both within the genus and within the species. In this regard, it is relevant to study the species composition of the genus Enterococcus strains in combination with the characteristics of their pathogenicity factors using the example of strains isolated from the environment, in particular water bodies. The aim was to study the species composition and pathogenicity factors of the genus Enterococcus bacteria isolated from the aquatic environment. A study of 61 strains of the genus Enterococcus isolated in water samples from the Vtoraya Rechka River obtained in the city of Vladivostok was carried out from March 10, 2018, to September 24, 2020. The species composition of microorganisms of the genus Enterococcus isolated in the Vtoraya Rechka River is represented in most cases by such species as Enterococcus faecalis and E. faecium. The rarer species E. durans and E. casseliflavus were also found. In the Vtoraya Rechka River γ-hemolytic activity was most common – 85.24% of strains; and only 14.75% of strains had β-hemolytic activity. We found that 8.19% of the studied strains synthesized DNase, and 1.62% synthesized collagenase. The most common strains were those that were not capable to liquefy gelatin – 85.24%. The genus Enterococcus strains capable to synthesize various pathogenicity factors were found as a result of the studied water samples from the Vtoraya Rechka River exposed to anthropogenic impact. Hemolytic activity complex and the ability to synthesize gelatinase were their specific attributes. This suggests that Enterococcus strains isolated in an aquatic ecosystem may pose a serious threat to human health.
ISSN 1995-4301
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