Resumen El género Enterococcus puede ser encontrado en agua, suelo y en general en todo ambiente, son parte de la microbiota intestinal de animales, incluyendo a humanos. La prevalencia en alimentos se debe principalmente a la resistencia que presentan a las condiciones adversas del ambiente. Setenta y tres aislados de vísceras de pollo fueron confirmados como pertenecientes al género a través de pruebas bioquímicas y fermentación de carbohidratos. La caracterización bioquímica indicó que la especie predominante fue E. casseliflavus. La resistencia de los aislados a antimicrobianos fue notoria para amikacina (42 %), kanamicina (38 %), estreptomicina (55 %), y eritromicina (33 %). El análisis obtenido por ERIC-PCR mostró una alta variabilidad genética entre los aislados. Así también, los aislados mostraron relación entre los perfiles obtenidos con la susceptibilidad a antimicrobianos y por ERIC-PCR. Estos resultados muestran la multiresistencia de Enterococcus en vísceras de pollo expedidos comercialmente, con una alta variabilidad genética. Además, estos Enterococcus pueden ser potencialmente patógenos en individuos como una bacteria nosocomial y además transferir la resistencia en especies que son estrictamente patógenas y causan enfermedades al humano.

Abstract The genus Enterococcus can be found in water, soil, and food, and above all, they are part of the animal (including human) intestinal microbiota. Food prevalence is mainly due to their resistance to adverse environmental conditions. Seventy-three isolates from chicken viscera were confirmed to belong to the Enterococcus genus by biochemical tests and carbohydrate fermentation. Phenotypic characterization of the species indicates that E. casseliflavus was the predominant specie. Antimicrobial resistance to amikacin (42 %), kanamycin (38 %), streptomycin (55 %) and erythromycin (33 %) in the isolates was notorious. The analysis obtained from ERIC-PCR profiles shows a high genetic variability among the isolates. In addition, a relationship between the antimicrobial and ERIC-PCR profiles was observed among isolates. These results indicate the presence of multiresistant Enterococcus in commercial chicken viscera with high genetic variability, which could be a potential nosocomial bacterium or transfer this resistance to another pathogenic species causing human diseases.

Abstract In this study, cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum), thyme (Thymus vulgaris) and Schinus molle essential oils (at 125, 250 and 500 µg/mL) were encapsulated in chitosan nanoparticles by ionotropic gelation. Their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Enterococcus sp., Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae (BLEE +) and Pseudomona aeruginosa carbapenemase producer was evaluated. The obtained nanoparticles exhibited a regular distribution and spherical shape with size range of 19.7 to 361 nm as observed by using a laser light scattering equipment. It was found that the studied chitosan nanoparticles with essential oils showed high antimicrobial effect than the chitosan and essential oils alone. Enterococcus sp. was the most sensitive bacteria and S. aureus the most resistant. Chitosan nanoparticles and chitosan nanoparticles with cinnamon and thyme essential oils were capable to inhibit growth of Enterococcus sp. and K. pneumoniae. This study demonstrated that chitosan nanoparticles with essential oils were effective against some foodborne pathogens.