FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Attempted eradication of methicillin-resistant staphylococcu...
Equine veterinary journal2005; 37(6); 510-514; doi: 10.2746/042516405775314835

Attempted eradication of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus colonisation in horses on two farms.

Abstract: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging equine and zoonotic pathogen. Infection control protocols can be used to control MRSA in human hospitals, but measures to eradicate MRSA on horse farms have not been evaluated. Objective: To describe an MRSA eradication programme that was used to attempt to eliminate MRSA colonisation among horses and horse personnel on 2 equine farms. Methods: Active surveillance cultures and infection control protocols were implemented on 2 farms with endemic MRSA. Results: Active screening and strict implementation of infection control protocols resulted in a rapid decrease in number of colonised horses on both farms. The majority of horses eliminated MRSA without antimicrobial treatment. On one farm colonisation was eradicated, while only 2 (3%) colonised horses remained on the other farm at the end of the study. Conclusions: Although at this stage the benefit of eradication of MRSA from populations of horses and cost-benefit studies have not been established, this study illustrates that short-term eradication can be achieved with a policy of segregation, enhanced infection control precautions and repeated testing of groups of animals. Conclusions: Infection control practices should form the basis of MRSA control. Antimicrobial therapy does not appear to be required for eradication of MRSA colonisation in horses and control of MRSA on farms. In appropriate circumstances, these methods may be useful for controlling the spread of this potentially serious pathogen.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2005-11-22 PubMed ID: 16295927DOI: 10.2746/042516405775314835Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research paper discusses an attempt to eradicate the colonization of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacterium causing harmful infection, in horses across two farms, using active surveillance and infection control protocols.

Research Objective

  • The main objective of the study was to describe an MRSA eradication program used to attempt to eliminate MRSA infection among horses and horse handlers on two equine farms.

Methods Used

  • The researchers utilized active surveillance cultures and implemented infection control protocols on the two farms with endemic MRSA.
  • They implemented an active screening process in both farms and carried out strict infection control rules to manage the disease.

Results

  • The active screening and rigorous implementation of infection control protocols led to a rapid decrease in the number of MRSA-infected horses on both farms.
  • The research found that most horses were able to eliminate MRSA without requiring antimicrobial treatment.
  • On one farm, the MRSA colonization was completely eradicated, while on the other farm only 2 (approximately 3%) of the horses remained colonized at the end of the study.

Conclusions

  • The study demonstrates that MRSA colonization in horses can be eradicated using a policy of segregation, increased infection control care, and repeated testing.
  • While the benefits of MRSA eradication from horse populations and cost-effectiveness studies are yet to be established, the implementation of infection control practices forms the basis of MRSA control.
  • The study concludes that antimicrobial therapy does not seem to be required for the eradication of MRSA colonization in horses, and suggests that in appropriate circumstances, these methods can be useful for controlling the spread of this potentially severe pathogen.

Cite This Article

APA
Weese JS, Rousseau J. (2005). Attempted eradication of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus colonisation in horses on two farms. Equine Vet J, 37(6), 510-514. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516405775314835

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 37
Issue: 6
Pages: 510-514

Researcher Affiliations

Weese, J S
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
Rousseau, J

    MeSH Terms

    • Animal Husbandry / methods
    • Animals
    • Colony Count, Microbial / veterinary
    • Disease Transmission, Infectious / prevention & control
    • Disease Transmission, Infectious / veterinary
    • Female
    • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
    • Horse Diseases / therapy
    • Horse Diseases / transmission
    • Horses
    • Humans
    • Hygiene
    • Infection Control / methods
    • Male
    • Mass Screening / veterinary
    • Methicillin Resistance
    • Quarantine / veterinary
    • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
    • Staphylococcal Infections / therapy
    • Staphylococcal Infections / transmission
    • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
    • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
    • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
    • Zoonoses

    Citations

    This article has been cited 12 times.
    1. Allano M, Arsenault J, Archambault M, Fairbrother JH, Sauvé F. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Colonization in Horses Admitted to a Veterinary Teaching Hospital. J Vet Intern Med 2025 May-Jun;39(3):e70027.
      doi: 10.1111/jvim.70027pubmed: 40135807google scholar: lookup
    2. Scollo A, Perrucci A, Stella MC, Ferrari P, Robino P, Nebbia P. Biosecurity and Hygiene Procedures in Pig Farms: Effects of a Tailor-Made Approach as Monitored by Environmental Samples. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 5;13(7).
      doi: 10.3390/ani13071262pubmed: 37048519google scholar: lookup
    3. Nielsen SS, Bicout DJ, Calistri P, Canali E, Drewe JA, Garin-Bastuji B, Gonzales Rojas JL, Gortázar C, Herskin M, Michel V, Miranda Chueca MÁ, Padalino B, Pasquali P, Roberts HC, Spoolder H, Ståhl K, Velarde A, Viltrop A, Winckler C, Baldinelli F, Broglia A, Kohnle L, Alvarez J. Assessment of listing and categorisation of animal diseases within the framework of the Animal Health Law (Regulation (EU) No 2016/429): antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in cattle and horses. EFSA J 2022 May;20(5):e07312.
      doi: 10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7312pubmed: 35582361google scholar: lookup
    4. Adams R, Smith J, Locke S, Phillips E, Erol E, Carter C, Odoi A. An epidemiologic study of antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus species isolated from equine samples submitted to a diagnostic laboratory. BMC Vet Res 2018 Feb 5;14(1):42.
      doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1367-6pubmed: 29402294google scholar: lookup
    5. Exner M, Bhattacharya S, Christiansen B, Gebel J, Goroncy-Bermes P, Hartemann P, Heeg P, Ilschner C, Kramer A, Larson E, Merkens W, Mielke M, Oltmanns P, Ross B, Rotter M, Schmithausen RM, Sonntag HG, Trautmann M. Antibiotic resistance: What is so special about multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria?. GMS Hyg Infect Control 2017;12:Doc05.
      doi: 10.3205/dgkh000290pubmed: 28451516google scholar: lookup
    6. Schmithausen RM, Kellner SR, Schulze-Geisthoevel SV, Hack S, Engelhart S, Bodenstein I, Al-Sabti N, Reif M, Fimmers R, Körber-Irrgang B, Harlizius J, Hoerauf A, Exner M, Bierbaum G, Petersen B, Bekeredjian-Ding I. Eradication of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and of Enterobacteriaceae expressing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases on a model pig farm. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015 Nov;81(21):7633-43.
      doi: 10.1128/AEM.01713-15pubmed: 26341200google scholar: lookup
    7. Barton M, Hawkes M, Moore D, Conly J, Nicolle L, Allen U, Boyd N, Embree J, Van Horne L, Le Saux N, Richardson S, Moore A, Tran D, Waters V, Vearncombe M, Katz K, Weese JS, Embil J, Ofner-Agostini M, Ford-Jones EL. Guidelines for the prevention and management of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A perspective for Canadian health care practitioners. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol 2006 Sep;17 Suppl C(Suppl C):4C-24C.
      pubmed: 23365589
    8. Van den Eede A, Martens A, Feryn I, Vanderhaeghen W, Lipinska U, Gasthuys F, Butaye P, Haesebrouck F, Hermans K. Low MRSA prevalence in horses at farm level. BMC Vet Res 2012 Nov 7;8:213.
      doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-8-213pubmed: 23134703google scholar: lookup
    9. Bergström K, Nyman G, Widgren S, Johnston C, Grönlund-Andersson U, Ransjö U. Infection prevention and control interventions in the first outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in an equine hospital in Sweden. Acta Vet Scand 2012 Mar 8;54(1):14.
      doi: 10.1186/1751-0147-54-14pubmed: 22401493google scholar: lookup
    10. David MZ, Daum RS. Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: epidemiology and clinical consequences of an emerging epidemic. Clin Microbiol Rev 2010 Jul;23(3):616-87.
      doi: 10.1128/CMR.00081-09pubmed: 20610826google scholar: lookup
    11. Tokateloff N, Manning ST, Weese JS, Campbell J, Rothenburger J, Stephen C, Bastura V, Gow SP, Reid-Smith R. Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in horses in Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia. Can Vet J 2009 Nov;50(11):1177-80.
      pubmed: 20119542
    12. Weese JS, Lefebvre SL. Risk factors for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in horses admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital. Can Vet J 2007 Sep;48(9):921-6.
      pubmed: 17966332
    Subscribe to our newsletter
    Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.