Abstract

DETECTION OF MACROLIDE RESISTANCE GENES ERMB AND MEFA/E IN IRAQ

Zahraa Y. Motaweq*, Hawraa A. Ali. Al-Dahhan, Habeeb S. Naher

Abstract

The results of amplification of ermB gene by monoplex-PCR revealed that 83.8% of S. pneumoniae isolates gave positive result for detection of ermB gene, only 16.2% isolates of S. pneumoniae gave negative result for detection of ermB gene. The results showed that 100% of S. pneumoniae isolates had mefA/E gene. The presence of mefA/E gene was an absolute predictor of phenotypic. Multiplex PCR results showed that two amplification bands of 640 bp (ermB) and 346 bp (mefA/E) were observed in 83.8% of isolates showing a corresponding in the present of two bands, while only 16.2% isolates of S. pneumoniae appeared one band (mefA/E gene). All the S. pneumonia isolates revealed resistance to erythromycin antibiotic were tested for the ability to produce M phenotype by using the double-disk test. The result revealed that (18.9%) isolates showed an M phenotype, 81.1% isolates showed a constitutive MLSB phenotype, and no isolates (0%) showed an inducible MLSB phenotype. M phenotype isolates: 85.7% of M phenotype isolates harbored the mef(A/E) gene, and 14.2% harbored the mef(A/E) and erm(B) genes. MLSB phenotype isolates: 100% of MLSB phenotype isolates had the erm(B) and mef(A/E)genes.

Keywords: Streptococcus pneumoniae, monoplex-PCR, Resistant genes ermB and mefA/E.