TY - JOUR N2 - Enterococcus hirae belongs in the Enterococcus faecium group within the genus Enterococcus. This species occurs naturally in the environment, commensally in the alimentary tracts of animals, and pathologically for example in humans with urinary infections. Some strains of E. hirae possess virulence factors, including biofilm formation. Biofilm growth protects bacteria against host de- fences; biofilm can be a source of persistent infection. Testing bacterial strains for their ability to form biofilm might therefore facilitate their treatment or prevention. This study focuses on bio- film formation by E. hirae strains derived from various animals. This kind of testing has never been done before. A total of 64 identified E. hirae from laying hens, ducks, pheasants, ostriches, rabbits, horses and a goat were tested by means of three methods; using Congo red agar, the tube method and microtiter plate agar. The majority of strains were found to form biofilm. 62.5% of strains were biofilm-forming, four categorized as highly positive (OD570 ≥1); most strains were low-grade biofilm positive (0.1 ≤ OD 570 < 1). Related to poultry, 55 E. hirae strains were tested nd found to produce biofilm; 24 strains did not form biofilm, 31 strains were biofilm-forming; 27 strains showed low-grade biofilm formation, and four strains were highly biofilm-forming. Four strains from hens and ostriches reached the highest OD570 values, more than 0.500. Rabbit-derived E. hirae strains as well as strains isolated from horses and the goat were low-grade bio- film-forming. Microtiter plate assay proved to be the best tool for testing the in vitro biofilm for- mation capacity of E. hirae strains from different species of animals. L1 - http://journals.pan.pl/Content/108468/PDF/12.pdf L2 - http://journals.pan.pl/Content/108468 PY - 2018 IS - No 4 EP - 754 DO - 10.24425/124314 KW - Enterococcus hirae KW - various animals KW - biofilm A1 - Bino, E. A1 - Lauková, A. A1 - Kandričáková, A. A1 - Nemcová, R. PB - Polish Academy of Sciences Committee of Veterinary Sciences PB - University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn VL - vol. 21 DA - 2018.12.20 T1 - Assessment of biofilm formation by faecal strains of Enterococcus hirae from different species of animals SP - 747 UR - http://journals.pan.pl/dlibra/publication/edition/108468 T2 - Polish Journal of Veterinary Sciences ER -