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Home / Equine Research Bank / Clin Med Res / Evidence of multiple virulence subtypes in nosocomial and co...
Clinical medicine & research2010; 9(1); 7-16; doi: 10.3121/cmr.2010.944

Evidence of multiple virulence subtypes in nosocomial and community-associated MRSA genotypes in companion animals from the upper midwestern and northeastern United States.

Abstract: Not much is known about the zoonotic transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in companion animals in the United States. We report the rate of prevalence of S. aureus and MRSA recovered from clinical samples of animals requiring treatment at veterinary clinics throughout the upper midwestern and northeastern United States. Methods: We compared phenotypes, genotypes, and virulence profiles of the MRSA isolates identified in companion animals, such as cats, dogs, horses, and pigs, with typical human nosocomial and community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) genotypes to assess implied zoonotic transmission or zooanthroponosis. Five hundred thirty-three coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS) isolates recovered between 2006 and 2008 from a variety of animal-source samples were screened for S. aureus by S. aureus-specific 16S rDNA primers and were screened for methicillin-resistance. All MRSA isolates were genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and spa typing. They were also screened for common staphylococcal enterotoxin and adhesion genes by multiplex and singleplex PCR. Results: Among the 533 CPS isolates recovered, 66 (12.4%) were determined to be S. aureus and 24 (4.5%) were MRSA. The percent of animals that were positive for S. aureus were as follows: 6.6% (32 of 487) dogs, 39.6% (19 of 48) cats, 83.3% (10 of 12) horses, and 100% of pigs, rabbits, hamsters and rats. Notably, 36.4% of all S. aureus identified were MRSA. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus was present in clinical samples from 12 of 487 dogs (2.5%), 6 of 48 cats (12.5%), 5 of 12 horses (42%), and 1 of 2 pigs (50%). The 24 MRSA isolates resolved into 4 PFGE clones: USA100 (50%), USA300 (16.7%), USA500 (20.8%) and USA800 (12.5%) and 6 sequence types (ST5, ST8, ST105, ST830, and ST986) or 2 clonal complexes, CC5 and CC8. Five major virulence profiles (clusters A to E) were observed in these MRSA isolates. Genotypic and virulence profiles of cats and dogs were more similar to each other than to those of horses. A Panton-Valentine leukocidin positive isolate with ST8:USA300 background was identified in a pig causing skin and soft infection. Conclusions: The presence of human MRSA clones in these animals suggests possible reverse zoonotic transmission. This study reports the first case of a USA300 genotype in a pig. Presence of multiple virulence profiles within a MRSA genotype in these animals suggests the potential of emergence of new MRSA clones by gaining or losing additional virulence genes.
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Publication Date: 2010-08-25 PubMed ID: 20739580PubMed Central: PMC3064756DOI: 10.3121/cmr.2010.944Google 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 study investigates the transmission of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a type of bacteria resistant to many antibiotics, among companion animals such as dogs, cats, and horses in the United States. It also reports the first case of a certain type of MRSA found in a pig. There are indications that this MRSA can be transmitted from animals to humans.

Study Design and Methodology

  • The researchers collected clinical samples from various animals requiring treatment at veterinary clinics across upper midwestern and northeastern USA.
  • Out of 533 coagulase-positive staphylococci (CPS), a type of bacteria, samples were taken and checked for the presence of S. aureus and MRSA using S. aureus-specific 16S rDNA primers.
  • The samples were further screened for methicillin-resistance.
  • The researchers used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and spa typing techniques to genotype the MRSA isolates.
  • The genes responsible for staphylococcal enterotoxin and adhesion were identified in the isolates using multiplex and singleplex PCR.

Results

  • Of the 533 CPS isolates recovered, 66 (12.4%) were identified as S. aureus and 24 (4.5%) were MRSA.
  • Animals positive for S. aureus were 6.6% (32 of 487) dogs, 39.6% (19 of 48) cats, 83.3% (10 of 12) horses, and 100% of pigs, rabbits, hamsters and rats.
  • Amongst these, 36.4% of all identified S. aureus were MRSA.
  • The 24 MRSA isolates were categorized into four major PFGE clones: USA100 (50%), USA300 (16.7%), USA500 (20.8%) and USA800 (12.5%).
  • Further, they were grouped into six different sequence types or two clonal complexes.
  • Five major virulence profiles were identified in the MRSA isolates.

Conclusions

  • Genotypic and virulence profiles of cats and dogs were found to be more similar to each other than to those of horses.
  • The presence of human MRSA clones in these animals suggests a possible reversed zoonosis, the transmission of the infection from animals to humans.
  • This study reported the first case of a USA300 genotype in a pig, supplemented with the speculate of potential emergence of new MRSA clones through gene gain or loss processes.

Cite This Article

APA
Lin Y, Barker E, Kislow J, Kaldhone P, Stemper ME, Pantrangi M, Moore FM, Hall M, Fritsche TR, Novicki T, Foley SL, Shukla SK. (2010). Evidence of multiple virulence subtypes in nosocomial and community-associated MRSA genotypes in companion animals from the upper midwestern and northeastern United States. Clin Med Res, 9(1), 7-16. https://doi.org/10.3121/cmr.2010.944

Publication

Clinical medicine & research
ISSN: 1554-6179
NlmUniqueID: 101175887
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 1
Pages: 7-16

Researcher Affiliations

Lin, Yihan
  • Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, WI 54449, USA.
Barker, Emily
    Kislow, Jennifer
      Kaldhone, Pravin
        Stemper, Mary E
          Pantrangi, Madhulatha
            Moore, Frances M
              Hall, Matthew
                Fritsche, Thomas R
                  Novicki, Thomas
                    Foley, Steven L
                      Shukla, Sanjay K

                        MeSH Terms

                        • Animals
                        • Cats
                        • Communicable Diseases / diagnosis
                        • Communicable Diseases / epidemiology
                        • Communicable Diseases / genetics
                        • Communicable Diseases / microbiology
                        • Communicable Diseases / transmission
                        • Cricetinae
                        • Dogs
                        • Genotype
                        • Horses
                        • Humans
                        • Male
                        • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
                        • Prevalence
                        • Rabbits
                        • Rats
                        • Staphylococcal Infections / diagnosis
                        • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
                        • Staphylococcal Infections / genetics
                        • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
                        • Staphylococcal Infections / transmission
                        • Swine
                        • United States
                        • Zoonoses / epidemiology
                        • Zoonoses / microbiology
                        • Zoonoses / transmission

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