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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Med Sci / Distribution of mecA-harboring staphylococci in healthy mare...
The Journal of veterinary medical science2002; 64(9); 821-827; doi: 10.1292/jvms.64.821

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.
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Publication Date: 2002-10-26 PubMed ID: 12399608DOI: 10.1292/jvms.64.821Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • 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 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

The Journal of veterinary medical science
ISSN: 0916-7250
NlmUniqueID: 9105360
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 64
Issue: 9
Pages: 821-827

Researcher Affiliations

Yasuda, Ryo
  • Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Agriculture, Kobe University, Rokkodai-cho, Nada-ku, Hyogo, Japan.
Kawano, Junichi
    Matsuo, Eiko
      Masuda, Takuji
        Shimizu, Akira
          Anzai, Toru
            Hashikura, Shingo

              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.
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