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The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy2024; 79(11); 2901-2905; doi: 10.1093/jac/dkae303

The circulation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus between humans, horses and the environment at the equine clinic.

Abstract: We performed a retrospective analysis of MRSA isolates collected at the university equine clinic including clinical isolates from 2008 to 2021 and screening environmental, equine and personnel isolates from 2016. Screening and clinical samples were cultured on Brilliance MRSA 2 and Columbia agar (Oxoid), respectively, with enrichment for environmental samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed by disc diffusion. All the isolates were characterized by spa typing. Eighteen selected isolates were subjected to WGS with subsequent wgMLST clonal analysis. Among 75 MRSA isolates, five spa types were identified, the majority (n = 67; 89.33%) was t011. All isolates were resistant to cefoxitin and ampicillin and carried the mecA gene. In addition, the isolates were resistant to tetracycline (n = 74; 98.67%), gentamicin (n = 70; 93.33%), enrofloxacin (n = 54; 72.00%), sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (n = 5; 6.67%) and lincomycin (n = 3; 4.00%) with corresponding genetic markers for the resistance detected in the sequenced isolates. All 18 sequenced isolates belonged to ST398, 16 carried SCCmec type IVa and two carried SCCmec type Vc (5C2&5). Further, isolates carried aur, hlgA, hlgB and hlgC virulence genes, and five isolates carried sak and scn genes, which are part of the immune evasion cluster. Close genetic relatedness was found between isolates from the staff of the clinic and clinical samples of horses. Repeated introduction and long-term persistence of the equine LA-MRSA subclone (ST398-MRSA-IVa/Vc(5C2&5), t011) among the infected horses at the equine clinic with the colonization of personnel, and the environment contamination that might contribute to transmission were observed.
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy.
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Publication Date: 2024-08-31 PubMed ID: 39212167PubMed Central: PMC11531815DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkae303Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research examines the relationship between humans, horses, and their environment in the transmission and persistence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a university equine clinic. It identifies that a particular subclone of MRSA often found in livestock (LA-MRSA) is the most common variant among the isolated MRSA samples from clinic staff, horses, and the environment.

Methods of the Research

  • The research was executed through a retrospective analysis of MRSA samples collected from the university equine clinic over almost a decade. Clinical samples were derived from 2008 to 2021, whereas environmental, equine, and personnel samples were obtained in 2016.
  • Both clinical and screening samples were cultured with various agar, and environmental samples went through an enrichment process. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed via disc diffusion.
  • All the collected MRSA isolates underwent spa typing, a conventional method used to categorize Staphylococcus aureus strains based on variation in the polymorphic ‘spa’ gene.
  • Eighteen selected isolates also underwent Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), followed by clonal analysis through whole-genome, multi-locus sequence typing (wgMLST).

Results of the Research

  • Out of 75 MRSA isolates, five spa types were identified with the majority (89.33%) being t011. All isolates displayed resistance to cefoxitin and ampicillin and carried the mecA gene, a determinant of MRSA.
  • The isolates were also resistant to other antimicrobials such as tetracycline, gentamicin, enrofloxacin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and lincomycin. Genetic markers corresponding to these resistances were identified in the sequenced isolates.
  • All 18 sequenced isolates belonged to the sequence type ST398 – a type commonly associated with livestock-associated MRSA. Among these, 16 carried SCCmec type IVa, and two carried SCCmec type Vc (5C2&5). These SCCmec types refer to the Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec, a mobile genetic element that carries the mecA gene.
  • The isolates also harbored virulence genes such as “aur”, “hlgA”, “hlgB”, and “hlgC”. Some strains also carried “sak” and “scn” genes, which are associated with immune evasion.
  • A significant genetic relatedness was observed between isolates from the clinic staff and clinical samples from horses, indicating possible transmission.

Conclusions of the Research

  • There was evidence of recurring introduction and long-term persistence of the equine LA-MRSA subclone (ST398-MRSA-IVa/Vc (5C2&5), t011) among the infected horses at the clinic.
  • The research also noted colonization of this MRSA subclone in personnel and the contamination of the environment, both of which may contribute to spread and transmission of this bacteria.

Cite This Article

APA
Papouskova A, Drabkova Z, Brajerova M, Krutova M, Cizek A, Tkadlec J. (2024). The circulation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus between humans, horses and the environment at the equine clinic. J Antimicrob Chemother, 79(11), 2901-2905. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkae303

Publication

The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy
ISSN: 1460-2091
NlmUniqueID: 7513617
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 79
Issue: 11
Pages: 2901-2905

Researcher Affiliations

Papouskova, Aneta
  • Institute of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
Drabkova, Zuzana
  • Equine Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
Brajerova, Marie
  • Department of Medical Microbiology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
Krutova, Marcela
  • Department of Medical Microbiology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.
Cizek, Alois
  • Institute of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
Tkadlec, Jan
  • Department of Medical Microbiology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses / microbiology
  • Animals
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / classification
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Humans
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Environmental Microbiology
  • Multilocus Sequence Typing
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Whole Genome Sequencing
  • Hospitals, Animal
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics

Grant Funding

  • Brno No. 2022 ITA 31 / University of Veterinary Sciences
  • University of Veterinary Sciences

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