Identification of a mecA/mecC-positive MRSA ST1-t127 isolate from a racehorse in Japan.
Abstract: MRSA is a known pathogen that affects horses. We investigated an equine MRSA isolate for potential antimicrobial resistance genes, classified the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) and identified the strain-specific dissemination in the horse community based on WGS. WGS, using short-read sequencing, and subsequent long-read sequencing by hybrid assembly, was conducted to obtain a complete genome sequence. Pairwise sequence alignment of relative SCCmec sequences and core-genome phylogenetic analysis were performed to highlight transmission routes of the SCCmec and MRSA strain-specific lineages. In 2018, we isolated the MRSA JRA307 strain from the pus of a wound on a racehorse and the complete genome sequence suggests that it is a clinically relevant pvl-negative ST1-t127 MRSA that harbours both mecA and mecC on SCCmec-307. SCCmec-307 exhibited marked sequence identity to the previously reported SCCmec-mecC in the Staphylococcus sciuri GVGS2 strain isolated from cattle. The JRA307 mecC gene was classified as a mecC allotype of S. sciuri rather than that of Staphylococcus aureus. We demonstrated the complete genome sequence of equine isolate JRA307, which is a clinically relevant MRSA harbouring mecA and mecC on SCCmec-307. The finding of mecC MRSA suggests a possible SCCmec transmission between distinct staphylococcal species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of mecC detection in Japan.
© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Publication Date: 2019-11-07 PubMed ID: 31691809DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkz459Google 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
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 an in-depth study carried out on an MRSA isolate from a racehorse in Japan to ascertain potential antimicrobial resistance genes. It aims to provide a greater understanding of the probabilities of SCCmec transmission across different staphylococcal species.
Objective of the Research
- The main goal of this research was to study an equine MRSA isolate for potential antimicrobial resistance genes. The researchers achieved this by classifying the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) through Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS).
Research Methodology
- The researchers used WGS coupled with short-read sequencing and subsequent long-read sequencing by hybrid assembly. These methods helped obtain a complete genome sequence — a necessity for effective research.
- The team performed pairwise sequence alignment of corresponding SCCmec sequences and conducted a core-genome phylogenetic analysis. The purpose of these steps was to identify transmission routes of the SCCmec and MRSA strain-specific lineages.
Research Findings
- In 2018, the team isolated the MRSA JRA307 strain from a wound’s pus on a racehorse. Through analysis, it was determined that the complete genome sequence of this strain is similar to a clinically relevant pvl-negative ST1-t127 MRSA, known to harbor both mecA and mecC on SCCmec-307.
- SCCmec-307 sequence shared significant identity with previously reported SCCmec-mecC from Staphylococcus sciuri GVGS2 strain originating from cattle.
- The researchers also discovered that the JRA307 mecC gene was more similar to a mecC allotype of S. sciuri as opposed to Staphylococcus aureus.
- Through the investigation, they successfully showcased the complete genome sequence of equine isolate JRA307 — another clinically significant MRSA housing both mecA and mecC on SCCmec-307.
Significance of the Study
- The discovery of mecC MRSA suggests a possible SCCmec transmission route between distinct staphylococcal species, expanding our knowledge about this type of transfer.
- Furthermore, as per the researchers’ claim, this study marks the first detection of mecC in Japan, hence paving the way for advances in its local healthcare sector.
Cite This Article
APA
Sekizuka T, Niwa H, Kinoshita Y, Uchida-Fujii E, Inamine Y, Hashino M, Kuroda M.
(2019).
Identification of a mecA/mecC-positive MRSA ST1-t127 isolate from a racehorse in Japan.
J Antimicrob Chemother, 75(2), 292-295.
https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkz459 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Pathogen Genomics Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
- Microbiology Division, Equine Research Institute, Japan Racing Association, 1400-4 Shiba, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan.
- Pathogen Genomics Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
- Pathogen Genomics Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
- Pathogen Genomics Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 1-23-1 Toyama, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
- Bacterial Proteins / genetics
- Genome, Bacterial
- Horses / microbiology
- Japan
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
- Penicillin-Binding Proteins / genetics
- Phylogeny
- Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Adesoji TO, Somda NS, Tetteh-Quarcoo P, Shittu AO, Donkor ES. Prevalence of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Infect Dis 2025 Jul 10;25(1):906.
- Monecke S, Burgold-Voigt S, Feßler AT, Krapf M, Loncaric I, Liebler-Tenorio EM, Braun SD, Diezel C, Müller E, Reinicke M, Reissig A, Cabal Rosel A, Ruppitsch W, Hotzel H, Hanke D, Cuny C, Witte W, Schwarz S, Ehricht R. Characterisation of Staphylococcus aureus Strains and Their Prophages That Carry Horse-Specific Leukocidin Genes lukP/Q. Toxins (Basel) 2025 Jan 3;17(1).
- Liu H, Ji X, Wang H, Hou X, Sun H, Billington C, Zhang L, Wang X, Wang R. Genomic epidemiology and characterization of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from raw milk in Jiangsu, China: emerging broader host tropism strain clones ST59 and ST398. Front Microbiol 2023;14:1266715.
- Belhout C, Boyen F, Vereecke N, Theuns S, Taibi N, Stegger M, de la Fé-Rodríguez PY, Bouayad L, Elgroud R, Butaye P. Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci (MRS) and Mammaliicocci (MRM) in Dromedary Camels from Algeria: First Detection of SCCmec-mecC Hybrid in Methicillin-Resistant Mammaliicoccus lentus. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 Mar 29;12(4).
- Albert E, Sahin-Tóth J, Horváth A, Papp M, Biksi I, Dobay O. Genomic Evidence for Direct Transmission of mecC-MRSA between a Horse and Its Veterinarian. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 Feb 17;12(2).
- Uchida-Fujii E, Niwa H, Kanai K, Kinoshita Y, Kuroda T, Nukada T, Ueno T. Outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus sequence type 1, spa type t1784, in an equine hospital in Japan. Vet Anim Sci 2022 Sep;17:100259.
- 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.
- Fungwithaya P, Boonchuay K, Narinthorn R, Sontigun N, Sansamur C, Petcharat Y, Thomrongsuwannakij T, Wongtawan T. First study on diversity and antimicrobial-resistant profile of staphylococci in sports animals of Southern Thailand. Vet World 2022 Mar;15(3):765-774.
- Kaiser-Thom S, Gerber V, Collaud A, Hurni J, Perreten V. Prevalence and WGS-based characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus in the nasal mucosa and pastern of horses with equine pastern dermatitis. BMC Vet Res 2022 Feb 24;18(1):79.
- Ali T, Basit A, Karim AM, Lee JH, Jeon JH, Rehman SU, Lee SH. Mutation-Based Antibiotic Resistance Mechanism in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Isolates. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021 May 1;14(5).
- Li QQ, Kang OH, Kwon DY. Study on Demethoxycurcumin as a Promising Approach to Reverse Methicillin-Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus. Int J Mol Sci 2021 Apr 6;22(7).
- Mohamed SA, Samir TM, Helmy OM, Elhosseiny NM, Ali AA, El-Kholy AA, Attia AS. A Novel Surface-Exposed Polypeptide Is Successfully Employed as a Target for Developing a Prototype One-Step Immunochromatographic Strip for Specific and Sensitive Direct Detection of Staphylococcus aureus Causing Neonatal Sepsis. Biomolecules 2020 Nov 20;10(11).
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
