Abstract
We report here an evaluation of the dissemination of
nim
genes, encoding 5-nitroimidazoles resistance, among
Bacteroides
clinical strains isolated in Morocco. This study was done using a PCR
method. Among 60 strains studied, nine contain a copy of a
nim
gene. The sequence determination of these genes showed that they are homologous to three
nim
genes previously characterized in
strains isolated in France:
nimB
(five genes),
nimC
(three genes), and
nimA
(one gene). Although the
nimA
and
nimC
genes were previously identified on plasmids pIP417
and pIP419, respectively, we found here that they have a chromosomal location. The MICs of three 5-nitroimidazole antibiotics (metronidazole, ornidazole, and tinidazole) of the
nim
gene-containing
strains were very low (0.5-2 μg/ml), indicating that the
nim
genes were not efficiently expressed in these clinical isolates.