Assessing metal tolerance genes in enterococci isolated from animals in South BrazilHeavy metal pollution is a global environmental problem. Enterococci have been recognized as sentinels of environmental pollution.This study investigates metal tolerance genes (arsA, merA, and tcrB) among enterococci isolated from fecal samples of domestic and wild animals from Atlantic Forest, Pampa biomes, and coastal regions of southern Brazil. Among the 238 enterococci analyzed, 38% harbored arsA_I/arsA_II and 10% contained tcrB, while none tested positive for merA genes. These results suggest that the selective pressure exerted by anthropogenic activities in the animals’ habitats may contribute to the occurrence of heavy metal tolerance genes in host-associated enterococci.
Key words
bacteria; metal tolerance genes; environmental contamination; anthropogenic impacts; animals
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