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Veterinary microbiology2016; 200; 59-64; doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2016.01.013

MRSA in equine hospitals and its significance for infections in humans.

Abstract: MRSA infections in equine clinics were reported from Northern America, Europe, Australia, and Japan. The majority of nosocomial infections in horses is obviously associated with particular MRSA clonal lineages. As already observed for epidemic MRSA in human hospitals more than 10 years ago, a dynamics of MRSA clonal lineages is also observed in European equine clinics: clonal lineages belonging to clonal complex (CC) 8 are on the retreat whereas MRSA attributed to CC398 become increasingly prevalent. The majority of CC398 isolates belong to a subpopulation which is particularly associated with equine hospitals as indicated by molecular typing. When emerging in equine clinics, MRSA from horses were also found as nasal colonizers of veterinary personnel. MRSA exhibiting the typing characteristics of MRSA known from equine clinics are obviously rare among MRSA from infections in humans. Although rare so far epidemic MRSA from human hospitals (HA-MRSA, e.g., ST22, ST225) have been isolated from nosocomial infections in horses and need particular attention in further surveillance.
Copyright © 2016. Published by Elsevier B.V.
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Publication Date: 2016-01-21 PubMed ID: 26869097DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2016.01.013Google 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.

The research focuses on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in equine hospitals and its implications for human infections. The majority of these infections in horses are linked to specific MRSA clonal lineages, and changes in these lineages have been noted over the years.

BACKGROUND

  • The study focuses on Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a bacteria resistant to several antibiotics, and its increasing prevalence in equine hospitals across Northern America, Europe, Australia, and Japan.
  • The research highlights the association between the majority of nosocomial (originating in a hospital) infections in horses and specific MRSA clonal lineages.

FINDINGS

  • The research notes a dynamic shift in MRSA clonal lineages similar to trends observed in human hospitals over a decade ago.
  • Clonal lineages belonging to the clonal complex (CC) 8 are declining, while MRSA attributed to CC398 are becoming increasingly prevalent.
  • The majority of CC398 isolates seem to be particularly connected with equine hospitals, as indicated by molecular typing.

IMPLICATIONS

  • Researchers noticed that when MRSA emerged in equine clinics, they were also found as nasal colonizers in the veterinary staff, indicating possible transmission between horses and humans.
  • Typing characteristics of MRSA known from equine clinics appear to be rare in MRSA from human infections. However, the research indicates the need for further studies due to isolated cases of epidemic MRSA from human hospitals (HA-MRSA, e.g., ST22, ST225) being found in nosocomial infections in horses.
  • Findings signal potential risks to humans, particularly veterinary professionals, and point towards a need for more stringent control and prevention measures in equine hospitals.

Cite This Article

APA
Cuny C, Witte W. (2016). MRSA in equine hospitals and its significance for infections in humans. Vet Microbiol, 200, 59-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2016.01.013

Publication

Veterinary microbiology
ISSN: 1873-2542
NlmUniqueID: 7705469
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 200
Pages: 59-64

Researcher Affiliations

Cuny, Christiane
  • Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode Branch Burgstrasse, 3738855 Wernigerode, Germany. Electronic address: cunych@rki.de.
Witte, Wolfgang
  • Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode Branch Burgstrasse, 3738855 Wernigerode, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Australia / epidemiology
  • Europe / epidemiology
  • Genotype
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horse Diseases / transmission
  • Horses
  • Hospitals, Animal
  • Humans
  • Japan / epidemiology
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • North America / epidemiology
  • Nose / microbiology
  • Prevalence
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / transmission
  • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary

Citations

This article has been cited 32 times.
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