Investigation of the presence of gele and ESP genes in enterococcus faecium strains isolated from mastitic bovine milk

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the potential virulence genes gelatinase (gelE), adhesion-associated protein (EfaAfm) and enterococcal surface protein (esp) of Enterococcus faecium strains isolated from mastitic bovine milk samples with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 600 mastitic bovine milk samples were used as material. Enterococci isolation were performed with classic methods by using the selective media. Identifications based on genus and species were also performed with PCR. Only 13 (13,5%) isolates were determined as E. faecium in 96 Enterococcus sp. It was determined that 9 (69,2%), 4 (30,7%) and 4 (30,7%) isolate carrying efaAfm, gelE, and esp genes, respectively. There were three (23,0%) isolates have no virulence genes. Totally, there were 5 virulence genotypes. Finally, it can be said that E. faecium strains isolated from mastitic bovine milk have high pathogenity and have zoonotic contamination risk and have high infection capability in humans. It is thought that further studies should be conducted on the definition of virulence factors related to severity of the infection and expending traits of E. faecium and their relationships with some kind of antibiotics should also be revealed.