Molecular Detection and Sequencing of Fluoroquinolone Resistance Genes in Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium Isolated from Clinical Samples in Babylon Governorate, Iraq | ||||
| Egyptian Journal of Medical Microbiology | ||||
| Article 60, Volume 35, Issue 1, January 2026 | ||||
| Document Type: New and original researches in the field of Microbiology. | ||||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejmm.2025.396916.1735 | ||||
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| Authors | ||||
Mohammed N. Al-Qayyim   ; Ashwak B. Al-Hashimy
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| Department Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology for Postgraduate Studies, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq | ||||
| Abstract | ||||
| Background: Enterococci are Gram-positive bacteria capable of surviving under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions, residing as commensals in the gastrointestinal system, and are responsible for infections that are challenging to manage in hospital environments. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Fluoroquinolone resistance genes in Enterococcus spp. isolated from different clinical samples in Babylon city/Iraq. Methodology: From Babylon governorate hospitals, 100 samples were collected from patients of varying ages and sexes diagnosed with urinary tract and intestinal infections. Subsequently employed both traditional methods and the VITEK-2 technology to identify Enterococcus spp. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were also performed. Subsequently, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to confirm the diagnosis of Enterococcus and to identify Fluoroquinolone resistance genes, and genetic sequencing was performed to detect alterations in these genes. Results: Sixteen Enterococcus isolates (12 E. faecalis and four E. faecium) were obtained. Antibiotic susceptibility tests showed that Enterococcus species were 43.75% resistant to Ciprofloxacin, 25% to Levofloxacin, and 25% to Norfloxacin. Molecular detection of diagnostic genes showed the presence of ddl E. faecalis, ddl E. faecium, and 16srRNA genes in all isolates used in the study at 100%. The results of this study showed the presence of ParC, ParE, and GyrA genes in 100% of all Enterococcus isolates, while the percentage of GyrB gene was 68.75% (66.66% in E. faecalis and 75% in E. faecium). The results of the sequencing technology of the Fluoroquinolones resistance genes showed variation in all isolates, and the local isolates matched the global isolates to varying degrees, with no isolate showing a 100% match owing to the occurrence of several mutations in its genome. Conclusion: Mutations and modifications in essential genes such as GyrA, GyrB, ParC, and ParE, which encode replication enzymes in Enterococcus species, along with the flexibility of these bacteria in different environments, play a major role in allowing these bacteria to evade the action of antibiotics, which complicates treatment options and exacerbates infections. | ||||
| Keywords | ||||
| Enterococcus; GyrA; GyrB; ParC; ParE | ||||
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