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MRSA carriage in the equine community: an investigation of horse-caretaker couples.
Abstract: Equine methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage entails a risk of both equine and zoonotic transmission and infection. In Europe, CC398, the livestock-associated (LA-)MRSA is highly prevalent in horses and veterinary personnel at equine clinics. The extent of the MRSA reservoir created by healthy horses from the general population and associated health hazard for their daily caretakers is, however, unknown. This study aimed at screening healthy horse-caretaker couples from a broad range of home farms. At five equine gatherings, 166 couples were selected for MRSA screening in the anterior nares and participation in an epidemiologic survey. All MRSA isolates were subjected to genotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Only 4 humans (2.4%) and 2 of their horses (1.2%) tested MRSA positive. Within the 2 couples where both partners were positive, man and horse carried isolates belonging to identical, livestock-associated spa types (t011 and t2330) and demonstrating equal antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. For all LA-MRSA positive humans (n=3) and animals (n=2) regular (in)direct contact with the veterinary sector was reported. A significant association between the horses' carriage status and transportation to an event could not be demonstrated (P=1.00). In conclusion, outside equine clinics, the extent of the MRSA reservoir in horses and their caretakers was low. Travel to an equine gathering could not be withheld as a risk factor for equine MRSA carriage, whereas indications were found that contact with veterinary care may predispose both healthy horses and their handlers to carriage.
Copyright © 2013. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Publication Date: 2013-01-23 PubMed ID: 23434186DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.12.038Google 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 research focuses on the carriage of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among horses and their caretakers, examining its prevalence and transmission risks. The study finds that outside equine clinics, the extent of MRSA reservoir in horses and their caretakers was low.
Objective of the Research
- The research aims to explore the extent of MRSA reservoir in healthy horses from the general population and the associated health hazard for their daily caretakers.
- It investigates the degree of MRSA carriage in healthy horse-caretaker couples from a variety of home farms, focusing specifically on the risk of equine and zoonotic transmission and infection.
Methodology
- The researchers conducted screenings for MRSA in 166 horse-caretaker couples at five equine gatherings, swabbing the anterior nares of both the horses and their handlers.
- They carried out a genotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing on all MRSA isolates found in the screenings.
- An epidemiologic survey was also conducted as part of the study.
Findings
- The study uncovered that only 2.4% of humans and 1.2% of their horses tested positive for MRSA.
- In cases where both the horse and handler were detected to carry MRSA, the isolates belonged to identical, livestock-associated spa types (t011 and t2330) and demonstrated identical patterns of antimicrobial susceptibility.
- The researchers found no significant association between horses’ MRSA carriage status and their transportation to an event.
Conclusions
- The research concludes that outside of equine clinics, the extent of the MRSA reservoir in horses and their caretakers was relatively low.
- Travel to an equine gathering was not found to be a risk factor for equine MRSA carriage.
- However, the study did find indications that contact with veterinary care might potentially predispose both healthy horses and their handlers to carry MRSA.
Cite This Article
APA
Van den Eede A, Martens A, Floré K, Denis O, Gasthuys F, Haesebrouck F, Van den Abeele A, Hermans K.
(2013).
MRSA carriage in the equine community: an investigation of horse-caretaker couples.
Vet Microbiol, 163(3-4), 313-318.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.12.038 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Surgery and Anaesthesiology of Domestic Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium. Annelies.VandenEede@Hogent.be
MeSH Terms
- Adult
- Animals
- Belgium
- Child
- Disease Reservoirs
- Europe
- Female
- Genotype
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / transmission
- Horses
- Humans
- Male
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / physiology
- Nasal Cavity / microbiology
- Prevalence
- Risk Factors
- Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
- Staphylococcal Infections / transmission
- Zoonoses / epidemiology
- Zoonoses / microbiology
Citations
This article has been cited 12 times.- Caddey B, Fisher S, Barkema HW, Nobrega DB. Companions in antimicrobial resistance: examining transmission of common antimicrobial-resistant organisms between people and their dogs, cats, and horses. Clin Microbiol Rev 2025 Mar 13;38(1):e0014622.
- Bullone M, Bellato A, Robino P, Nebbia P, Morello S, Marchis D, Tarducci A, Ru G. Prevalence and risk factors associated with nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in horses and their caregivers. Vet Res 2024 Sep 9;55(1):108.
- Kannekens-Jager MM, Duim B, der Graaf-van Bloois LV, Zomer AL, Broekhuizen-Stins MJ, Boswinkel M, Wagenaar JA, Broens EM. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus outbreak in a Dutch equine referral clinic. J Med Microbiol 2024 Aug;73(8).
- Godijk NG, Bootsma MCJ, Bonten MJM. Transmission routes of antibiotic resistant bacteria: a systematic review. BMC Infect Dis 2022 May 20;22(1):482.
- 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.
- Spinelli E, Requena T, Caruso M, Parisi A, Capozzi L, Difato L, Normanno G. Fate of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) under simulated acidic conditions of the human stomach. Food Sci Nutr 2020 Sep;8(9):4739-4745.
- Haenni M, Châtre P, Dupieux-Chabert C, Métayer V, Bes M, Madec JY, Laurent F. Molecular Epidemiology of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Horses, Cats, and Dogs Over a 5-Year Period in France. Front Microbiol 2017;8:2493.
- Cuny C, Abdelbary MMH, Köck R, Layer F, Scheidemann W, Werner G, Witte W. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from infections in horses in Germany are frequent colonizers of veterinarians but rare among MRSA from infections in humans. One Health 2016 Dec;2:11-17.
- van Balen J, Mowery J, Piraino-Sandoval M, Nava-Hoet RC, Kohn C, Hoet AE. Molecular epidemiology of environmental MRSA at an equine teaching hospital: introduction, circulation and maintenance. Vet Res 2014 Mar 19;45(1):31.
- van Rijen MM, Kluytmans JA. Adjustment of the MRSA Search and Destroy policy for outpatients in the Netherlands: a prospective cohort study with repeated prevalence measurements. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2014 Jan 15;3(1):3.
- Crombé F, Argudín MA, Vanderhaeghen W, Hermans K, Haesebrouck F, Butaye P. Transmission Dynamics of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Pigs. Front Microbiol 2013;4:57.
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