Bacterial diversity and detection of resistance genes to broad-spectrum betalactams in dairy family farm soils

Bovine mastitis is a complex disease that brings great losses to the dairy producer. The microbial diversity of the soils, as well as the presence of resistance genes in the environment directly influence the maintenance of mastitis in the farm. The objective of this work was to analyze the bacterial diversity in pasture soils of a dairy family farm, detecting enterobacteria that may be involved in the etiology of bovine mastitis, and to detect genes that encode broad-spectrum betalactamases in these soils. Twelve soil samples, representative of different areas of the farm located in the municipality of Barra do Piraí, Rio de Janeiro, were collected at different times of the year. Total DNA was extracted from the samples, gene amplified by Nested-PCR and then the amplification products were separated by DGGE (Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis). With the DGGE it was possible to construct dendograms that effectively represented the bacterial diversity of these soils. Eight of the soil samples were used to amplify the genes encoding the betalactamase enzymes TEM (blaTEM gene), SHV (blaSHV gene) and CTX (blaCTXM gene). In three of the eight soil samples, the blaSHV gene was found to be present. The blaTEM and blaCTX-M genes were not detected in any of the samples. The detection of genes encoding broad-spectrum betalactamases in dairy cattle pasture soils is of concern, because the transfer of gene material between pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria in this environment is a reality.