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Distribution of mecA-harboring staphylococci in healthy mares.
Abstract: The prevalence of staphylococci that harbor the mecA gene responsible for methicillin resistance was examined in healthy breeding mares. Staphylococci often cause diseases of horses such as metritis, keratitis, and abscess. Methicillin-resistant staphylococci would make antibiotic treatments ineffective, so it may be significant to know the distribution of mecA-harboring staphylococci in mares. Isolation of mecA-harboring staphylococci was achieved from nares and pasterns of 100 mares in Hokkaido, Japan. From 13% of the mares, mecA-harboring staphylococci, including 15 isolates of Staphylococcus sciuri and 3 of Staphylococcus lentus, were isolated. Isolates of S. sciuri were found to be genetically polyclonal by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. These isolates produced no PCase and showed low or no resistance to beta-lactam and other classes of antibiotics. Distribution of staphylococcal species and levels of antibiotic resistance were found to be different between isolates from the present mares and those previously reported from riding-horses. Antibiotic pressure may lead to these differences. In addition, it appears that mecA-harboring S. sciuri may be native to horses.
Publication Date: 2002-10-26 PubMed ID: 12399608DOI: 10.1292/jvms.64.821Google 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.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The researchers examined the prevalence of a gene responsible for antibiotic resistance in a group of healthy breeding horses, found in bacteria that commonly cause horse diseases. They discovered the gene in 13% of the population and noted differences in bacteria species and antibiotic resistance levels compared to previous studies.
Research Objectives and Methodology
- The main object of this study was to determine the prevalence of staphylococci bacteria carrying the mecA gene, which is responsible for resistance to methicillin, an antibiotic commonly used for treating bacterial infections.
- The researchers examined healthy breeding mares (female horses) as these can often be carriers of diseases that might affect the entire population.
- The sampling was conducted with 100 mares in Hokkaido, Japan. Samples were taken from two anatomical areas – the nares (nostrils) and pasterns (lower leg section) of these mares.
Findings and Implications
- They found out that 13% of the horses harbored mecA gene-containing staphylococci. Within these, they identified 15 isolates of Staphylococcus sciuri and 3 of Staphylococcus lentus.
- The researchers discovered that the S. sciuri isolates were genetically diverse (polyclonal), hinting towards multiple sources of infection or a high mutation rate that enables the bacteria to adapt to various environments.
- Fascinatingly, these bacteria did not produce PCase (presumably an enzyme related to infection and resistance) and displayed low to no resistance to beta-lactam (another class of antibiotics), and other classes of antibiotics.
- Significantly, there were noted differences in the distribution of staphylococcal species and their levels of antibiotic resistance when compared with previous studies conducted on riding horses.
- The study suggests that antibiotic pressure (increased use of antibiotics, leading to resistance) might be causing these changes. Therefore, it raises concerns on the use of antibiotics in animals and its potential impact on resistance development.
- Lastly, the prevalence of mecA-containing S. sciuri raised the possibility that these bacteria might be native to horses, potentially opening up new avenues for research into horse-specific pathogens and antimicrobial resistance.
Cite This Article
APA
Yasuda R, Kawano J, Matsuo E, Masuda T, Shimizu A, Anzai T, Hashikura S.
(2002).
Distribution of mecA-harboring staphylococci in healthy mares.
J Vet Med Sci, 64(9), 821-827.
https://doi.org/10.1292/jvms.64.821 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kobe University, Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Hyogo, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bacteriological Techniques
- Carrier State / epidemiology
- Carrier State / microbiology
- Carrier State / veterinary
- Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
- Female
- Genes, Bacterial / genetics
- Horses / microbiology
- Methicillin Resistance / genetics
- Microbial Sensitivity Tests
- Polymerase Chain Reaction
- RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / genetics
- Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
- Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
- Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
- Staphylococcus / drug effects
- Staphylococcus / genetics
- Staphylococcus / isolation & purification
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Florea B, Morar D, Văduva C, Simiz F, Velescu S, Kracunovic C, Iorgoni V, Nistor P, Degi J, Iancu I, Herman V, Pocinoc A, Dumitrescu E. First Report of Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus sciuri Isolated from the Urinary Bladder of a Domestic Rabbit in Romania: A Case Study. Antibiotics (Basel) 2025 Oct 29;14(11).
- 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.
- Othman AA, Hiblu MA, Abbassi MS, Abouzeed YM, Ahmed MO. Nasal colonization and antibiotic resistance patterns of Staphylococcus species isolated from healthy horses in Tripoli, Libya. J Equine Sci 2021 Jun;32(2):61-65.
- França A, Gaio V, Lopes N, Melo LDR. Virulence Factors in Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci. Pathogens 2021 Feb 4;10(2).
- Lauková A, Bino E, Kubašová I, Strompfová V, Miltko R, Belzecki G, Pogány Simonová M. Characterisation of Faecal Staphylococci from Roe Deer (Capreolus capreolus) and Red Deer (Cervus elaphus) and Their Susceptibility to Gallidermin. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2020 Mar;12(1):302-310.
- Bino E, Lauková A, Ščerbová J, Kubašová I, Kandričáková A, Strompfová V, Miltko R, Belzecki G. Fecal coagulase-negative staphylococci from horses, their species variability, and biofilm formation. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2019 Nov;64(6):719-726.
- Schwarz S, Feßler AT, Loncaric I, Wu C, Kadlec K, Wang Y, Shen J. Antimicrobial Resistance among Staphylococci of Animal Origin. Microbiol Spectr 2018 Jul;6(4).
- Calazans-Silva AC, Medeiros PT, Araujo DM, Carvalho BO, Coelho IS, Coelho SM, Souza MM. Genetic analysis of mecA gene and detection of homologue pbpD in Stahylococcus sciuri group. Braz J Microbiol 2014;45(2):651-5.
- Karakulska J, Fijałkowski K, Nawrotek P, Pobucewicz A, Poszumski F, Czernomysy-Furowicz D. Identification and methicillin resistance of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from nasal cavity of healthy horses. J Microbiol 2012 Jun;50(3):444-51.
- Huber H, Ziegler D, Pflüger V, Vogel G, Zweifel C, Stephan R. Prevalence and characteristics of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci from livestock, chicken carcasses, bulk tank milk, minced meat, and contact persons. BMC Vet Res 2011 Jan 27;7:6.
- Schnellmann C, Gerber V, Rossano A, Jaquier V, Panchaud Y, Doherr MG, Thomann A, Straub R, Perreten V. Presence of new mecA and mph(C) variants conferring antibiotic resistance in Staphylococcus spp. isolated from the skin of horses before and after clinic admission. J Clin Microbiol 2006 Dec;44(12):4444-54.
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