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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / Prevalence and WGS-based characteristics of Staphylococcus a...
BMC veterinary research2022; 18(1); 79; doi: 10.1186/s12917-021-03053-y

Prevalence and WGS-based characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus in the nasal mucosa and pastern of horses with equine pastern dermatitis.

Abstract: Many contributing factors are involved in the development of equine pastern dermatitis (EPD). Among the most frequently suspected is Staphylococcus aureus, known for its pathogenic potential in skin and soft tissue infections. We therefore investigated the association between S. aureus carriage and EPD. Results: One hundred five EPD-affected horses and 95 unaffected controls were examined for the presence of methicillin-resistant and -susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA and MSSA) on the pastern skin and in the nostrils. S. aureus isolates were cultivated from swab samples on selective MSSA and MRSA chromogenic agar and identified using MALDI-TOF MS. Isolates were analysed by Illumina whole genome sequencing for genetic relatedness (cgMLST, spa typing), and for the presence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants. A markedly higher proportion of samples from EPD-affected horses proved positive for S. aureus, both from the pastern (59.0 % vs. 6.3 % in unaffected horses; P<0.001), and from the nose (59.0 % vs. 8.4 %; P<0.001). Isolates belonged to 20 sequence types (ST) with lineages ST15-t084 (spa) (18 %), ST1-t127 (13 %), and ST1-t1508 (12 %) being predominant. Eight S. aureus were MRSA ST398-t011 and ST6239-t1456, and contained the staphylococcal cassette chromosome SCCmecIVa. Antimicrobial resistance genes were almost equally frequent in pastern and in nasal samples, whereas some virulence factors such as the beta-hemolysin, ESAT-6 secretion system, and some enterotoxins were more abundant in isolates from pastern samples, possibly enhancing their pathogenic potential. Conclusions: The markedly higher prevalence of S. aureus containing specific virulence factors in affected skin suggests their contribution in the development and course of EPD.
© 2022. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2022-02-24 PubMed ID: 35209904PubMed Central: PMC8867626DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-03053-yGoogle 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.

This research study investigates the correlation between Staphylococcus aureus, a bacteria commonly implicated in skin and soft tissue infections, and equine pastern dermatitis (EPD) in horses. The team discovered that the presence of this bacteria alongside certain virulence factors was noticeably higher in horses with the disease versus unaffected controls, suggesting that Staphylococcus aureus could be contributing to the development and progress of the ailment.

Objective of the Study

  • This study aimed to determine whether Staphylococcus aureus played a critical role in the onset and progress of equine pastern dermatitis (EPD) in horses. To do this, the team analyzed samples from both EPD-affected and unaffected horses, looking specifically for methicillin-resistant and susceptible strains of this bacteria.

Methodology

  • The researchers amassed swab samples from the pastern skin and nostrils of 105 horses affected by EPD and 95 unaffected horses. They cultured these samples on selective agar to encourage the growth of Staphylococcus aureus.
  • The team identified the resulting bacteria cultures using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).
  • They then used whole-genome sequencing to study the genetic relatedness of their isolates, as well as to identify the presence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants.

Results

  • The investigation revealed a notably higher positivity rate for Staphylococcus aureus in samples taken from EPD-affected horses, in both skin and nostril swabs.
  • Generated isolates belonged to 20 unique sequence types (ST), with certain types being more predominant than others. Eight of the isolates were found to be methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and contained the SCCmecIVa gene.
  • Levels of antimicrobial resistance genes tended to be similar in samples from the pastern and nasal sites. However, certain virulence factors appeared more frequently in pastern sample isolates, suggesting an increased potential for disease induction.

Conclusions

  • The significantly increased presence of Staphylococcus aureus in horses with EPD implies a connection between this bacteria and the disease. Certain virulence factors were found more so in the affected skin samples, further suggesting that the presence of this bacteria might stimulate the progression of EPD.

Cite This Article

APA
Kaiser-Thom S, Gerber V, Collaud A, Hurni J, Perreten V. (2022). Prevalence and WGS-based characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus in the nasal mucosa and pastern of horses with equine pastern dermatitis. BMC Vet Res, 18(1), 79. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-021-03053-y

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Pages: 79

Researcher Affiliations

Kaiser-Thom, Sarah
  • Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), University of Bern, and Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland.
Gerber, Vinzenz
  • Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), University of Bern, and Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland.
Collaud, Alexandra
  • Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Hurni, Joel
  • Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, Swiss Institute of Equine Medicine (ISME), University of Bern, and Agroscope, Bern, Switzerland.
  • Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Perreten, Vincent
  • Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland. vincent.perreten@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Dermatitis / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horses / genetics
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / veterinary
  • Nasal Mucosa
  • Prevalence
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
  • Staphylococcus aureus
  • Virulence Factors / genetics
  • Whole Genome Sequencing / veterinary

Grant Funding

  • REF-37-075 / Bundesamt für Lebensmittelsicherheit und Veterinärwesen
  • REF-33-890 / ISMEquine Research Fund
  • REF-660-50 / Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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