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Home / Equine Research Bank / Microb Drug Resist / Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylo...
Microbial drug resistance (Larchmont, N.Y.)2017; 24(2); 203-212; doi: 10.1089/mdr.2017.0032

Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Australian Animals and Veterinarians.

Abstract: This study aimed to determine the frequency and molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from Australian animals and whether animal-derived MRSA was similar to that from Australian veterinarians. A total of 1,080 clinical coagulase positive Staphylococcus isolates from Australian animals were collected during 2013. Sixteen (4%) of 360 S. aureus isolates were MRSA. Most MRSA came from companion animals, while none came from livestock. MRSA isolates were characterized using whole genome sequencing. ST22-IV (EMRSA-15) was the most common clone in dogs and cats. Clonal complex (CC) 8 was most common in horses. Most ST22-IV isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin. Animal-derived MRSA genomes were interrogated for the presence of host-specific genetic markers (staphylokinase gene [scn], chemotaxis-inhibiting proteins gene [chp], staphylococcal complement inhibitor gene [sak], enterotoxin A gene [sea], and Von Willebrand Factor binding protein gene [vwb]). A subset of MRSA genomes previously collected from Australian veterinarians was also interrogated. There was no clear pattern in the distribution of host-specific markers among animal and veterinarian isolates. Animal- and veterinarian-derived MRSA were intermingled in the phylogenetic tree. The absence of MRSA in Australian livestock is in stark contrast with its presence in livestock from other countries. Possible explanations include Australia's geographic isolation, the absence of live animal importation into Australia, and most notably, the restrictions placed on the use of antimicrobials of critical importance in Australian livestock.
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Publication Date: 2017-06-09 PubMed ID: 28598251DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2017.0032Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

This study investigates the presence and types of antibiotic-resistant bacteria known as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Australian animals and veterinarians, highlighting the dominance of one bacterial clone in pets and another in horses. The research also notes the notable absence of MRSA in Australian livestock — a contrast to other countries — which is possibly related to Australia’s geographic isolation, livestock importation restrictions, and controlled use of critical antibiotics.

Presence and Types of MRSA in Australian Animals and Veterinarians

  • The researchers collected 1,080 staphylococcus samples from Australian animals in 2013 and found that 4% of the 360 S. aureus samples were MRSA.
  • The MRSA isolates were primarily found in pets; there were no findings of MRSA in livestock.
  • Whole genome sequencing was then performed on these MRSA to better understand their molecular characteristics.
  • The most common form of MRSA found in dogs and cats was ST22-IV (EMRSA-15), while horses mostly had clonal complex (CC) 8.
  • Most ST22-IV isolates showed resistance to the antibiotic ciprofloxacin.

Analysis of Host-Specific Genetic Markers

  • The MRSA genomes were then assessed for the presence of specific genetic markers that might indicate adaptability to different hosts.
  • These markers include genes responsible for producing proteins impacting bacterial infections, such as staphylokinase, chemotaxis-inhibiting proteins, staphylococcal complement inhibitor, enterotoxin A, and Von Willebrand Factor binding protein.
  • The researchers also evaluated a selection of MRSA genomes previously obtained from veterinarians in Australia.
  • Contrary to expectations, the distribution of these host-specific markers did not show a clear pattern among either the animal or veterinarian isolates.

The Absence of MRSA in Australian Livestock

  • The researchers noted that the lack of MRSA in Australian livestock is a unique deviation from the situation in many other countries where MRSA is frequently found in livestock.
  • Multiple potential explanations were proposed for this phenomenon, including Australia’s geographical isolation and the country’s strict regulations on live animal imports.
  • However, one of the most significant factors attributed to this absence of MRSA in livestock is the restrictions Australia has placed on the use of critically important antibiotics within the livestock industry.

Cite This Article

APA
Worthing KA, Abraham S, Pang S, Coombs GW, Saputra S, Jordan D, Wong HS, Abraham RJ, Trott DJ, Norris JM. (2017). Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Australian Animals and Veterinarians. Microb Drug Resist, 24(2), 203-212. https://doi.org/10.1089/mdr.2017.0032

Publication

Microbial drug resistance (Larchmont, N.Y.)
ISSN: 1931-8448
NlmUniqueID: 9508567
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 24
Issue: 2
Pages: 203-212

Researcher Affiliations

Worthing, Kate A
  • 1 Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney , Sydney, Australia .
Abraham, Sam
  • 2 Antimicrobial Resistance and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, School of Veterinary Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia .
Pang, Stanley
  • 2 Antimicrobial Resistance and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, School of Veterinary Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia .
  • 3 PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Fiona Stanley Hospital , Murdoch, Australia .
Coombs, Geoffrey W
  • 2 Antimicrobial Resistance and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, School of Veterinary Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia .
  • 3 PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, Fiona Stanley Hospital , Murdoch, Australia .
Saputra, Sugiyono
  • 4 Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide , Roseworthy, Australia .
  • 5 Research Center for Biology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences , Cibinong, Indonesia .
Jordan, David
  • 6 New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Wollongbar, Australia .
Wong, Hui S
  • 4 Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide , Roseworthy, Australia .
Abraham, Rebecca J
  • 2 Antimicrobial Resistance and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, School of Veterinary Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia .
  • 4 Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide , Roseworthy, Australia .
Trott, Darren J
  • 4 Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology, School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide , Roseworthy, Australia .
Norris, Jacqueline M
  • 1 Sydney School of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney , Sydney, Australia .

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Cats
  • Ciprofloxacin / pharmacology
  • Dogs
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics
  • Genetic Markers
  • Genome, Bacterial
  • Horses / microbiology
  • Host Specificity
  • Humans
  • Livestock / microbiology
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / classification
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Molecular Epidemiology
  • Pets / microbiology
  • Phylogeny
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Veterinarians
  • Whole Genome Sequencing

Citations

This article has been cited 18 times.
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