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Journal of clinical microbiology2008; 47(3); 704-710; doi: 10.1128/JCM.01626-08

Comparative molecular analysis substantiates zoonotic potential of equine methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract: Despite the increasing importance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in veterinary medicine, knowledge about the epidemiology of the pathogen in horses is still poor. The phylogenetic relationship of strains of human and equine origins has been addressed before, usually by analyzing results of common standard classification methods for MRSA. This work intends to go beyond the baseline of typing procedures in order to comparatively characterize equine and human MRSA strains with similar phylogenetic backgrounds. In addition to multilocus sequence typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, spa typing, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec typing, and a PCR for Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene detection, a microarray analysis of a total of 185 structural, virulence-associated, and resistance loci was applied. The results showed that clonal complex 8 (CC8) was absolutely predominant (16 strains) in 19 investigated equine MRSA strains. Of the CC8 strains, 13 belonged to sequence type 254 (ST254) and the other 3 to ST8. This genotype has been isolated from different equine patients in various regions over several years, substantiating the apparent predominance of CC8 STs in MRSA strains of horses worldwide. Furthermore, comparatively investigated human strains of ST254 displayed molecular-typing results indistinguishable from those for strains of equine origin. Two further equine strains (ST22 and ST1117) showed similarity to ST22 human strains (CC22). One equine strain belonged to ST398, a genotype recently described as being frequently isolated from specimens from pigs and pig farmers. These data provide evidence for the adaptation of certain MRSA genotypes to more than one mammalian species, reflecting their extended host spectra.
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Publication Date: 2008-12-24 PubMed ID: 19109463PubMed Central: PMC2650932DOI: 10.1128/JCM.01626-08Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • 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.

The research article discusses the epidemiological aspects of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in horses. The research focuses on providing a comparative characterization of MRSA strains from both horses and humans, emphasizing that specific genotypes seem to be adapted to infect more than one mammalian species.

Study Methodology

  • The study analyzed the phylogenetic relationship between MRSA strains from human and equine origins, going beyond simply classifying the strains.
  • A variety of testing methodologies were used, including multilocus sequence typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, spa typing, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec typing, and PCR for Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene detection.
  • A microarray analysis of a total of 185 structural, virulence-associated, and resistance loci was applied to enhance the understanding of the genotypic relationship between the strains.

Key Findings

  • The majority of the MRSA strains studied belonged to Clonal Complex 8 (CC8), suggesting it’s the predominant strain among horses.
  • Of the CC8 strains, most belonged to Sequence Type 254 (ST254), which has been isolated from horses in different regions over several years, reinforcing its prevalence.
  • Human strains of ST254 had similar molecular-typing results to those of the equine strains, suggesting a shared host range.
  • Two other equine strains (ST22 and ST1117) showed similarity to ST22 human strains (CC22), further indicating the possibility of specific MRSA genotypes crossing species barriers.
  • One equine MRSA strain belonged to ST398, a genotype usually seen in pigs and pig farmers, providing additional evidence for the adaptation of certain MRSA genotypes to more than one mammalian host.

Conclusion and Implications

  • The study provides substantial evidence that certain MRSA genotypes might be able to adapt to infect more than one mammalian species. This notably expands our understanding of MRSA’s host range and brings attention to the importance of monitoring MRSA infections in various veterinary medicine contexts.
  • The identification of these genotypes can assist in improving diagnostic procedures, understanding disease transmission routes, and devising more effective strategies to combat MRSA infections in different mammalian hosts.

Cite This Article

APA
Walther B, Monecke S, Ruscher C, Friedrich AW, Ehricht R, Slickers P, Soba A, Wleklinski CG, Wieler LH, Lübke-Becker A. (2008). Comparative molecular analysis substantiates zoonotic potential of equine methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. J Clin Microbiol, 47(3), 704-710. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.01626-08

Publication

Journal of clinical microbiology
ISSN: 1098-660X
NlmUniqueID: 7505564
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 47
Issue: 3
Pages: 704-710

Researcher Affiliations

Walther, Birgit
  • Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics (IMT), Free University Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany. walther.birgit@vetmed.fu-berlin.de
Monecke, Stefan
    Ruscher, Claudia
      Friedrich, Alexander W
        Ehricht, Ralf
          Slickers, Peter
            Soba, Alexandra
              Wleklinski, Claus-G
                Wieler, Lothar H
                  Lübke-Becker, Antina

                    MeSH Terms

                    • Animals
                    • Bacterial Toxins / genetics
                    • Bacterial Typing Techniques
                    • Cluster Analysis
                    • DNA Fingerprinting
                    • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
                    • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
                    • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
                    • Exotoxins / genetics
                    • Genotype
                    • Horse Diseases / microbiology
                    • Horse Diseases / transmission
                    • Horses
                    • Humans
                    • Leukocidins / genetics
                    • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / classification
                    • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
                    • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
                    • Microarray Analysis
                    • Sequence Analysis, DNA
                    • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
                    • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
                    • Staphylococcal Protein A / genetics
                    • Virulence Factors / genetics
                    • Zoonoses / transmission

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                    Citations

                    This article has been cited 45 times.
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