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Veterinary microbiology2005; 113(1-2); 131-136; doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2005.10.028

The prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in healthy horses in the Netherlands.

Abstract: Two hundred healthy horses housed at 23 different farms and one clinic and 42 persons in close contact with these horses were screened for the presence of methicillin resistant staphylococci. Samples were taken from the nose and the pastern of the horses and from the nose and throat of the humans and incubated in selective media. Isolates were identified by standard techniques and their susceptibilities were tested using an agar diffusion method. Methicillin-resistant strains were tested for the presence of the mecA gene by PCR. In 45 horses (22.5%) and 15 humans (35.7%) mecA positive staphylococci were found. All isolates were coagulase negative staphylococci, except for one methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from a veterinarian. Staphylococcus sciuri was the predominant species found among the methicillin resistant staphylococci (MRS) in the horses, whereas S. epidermidis predominated in the humans. From the horses, often more than one species of MRS could be isolated, resulting in a total of 175 mecA positive equine isolates. The equine isolates were predominantly susceptible to most antimicrobials tested, whereas the human isolates showed more resistance. In conclusion, no methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was found in healthy horses in the Netherlands, but methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci were found frequently. Further studies are needed in order to investigate whether horses can be a reservoir for MRS or the mecA gene for humans.
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Publication Date: 2005-11-21 PubMed ID: 16303264DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2005.10.028Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • 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.

The research study aimed to investigate the presence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in healthy horses and humans associated with them in the Netherlands. It found a considerable proportion of horses and humans carrying these bacteria, but the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was only found in one human.

Research Methodology

  • The study involved sampling 200 healthy horses from 23 farms and one clinic, and 42 humans who were in close contact with these horses.
  • It used samples taken from the noses and pastern (a part of a horse’s leg below the joint of the knee or hock) of the horses, while with humans, nose and throat samples were collected.
  • All samples were incubated in selective media, providing a conducive environment to isolate the bacteria present in the samples.
  • Standard techniques were used to identify the bacterial isolates obtained, and their susceptibility to various antibiotics was tested using an agar diffusion method, which involves introducing antibiotics to the cultured bacteria and observing the formation of inhibition zones.
  • Methicillin-resistant strains were further tested for the presence of the mecA gene – a common identifier of methicillin resistance – using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), a method used to amplify specific DNA segments.

Research Findings

  • It was found that 22.5% of horses and 35.7% of humans had mecA positive staphylococci, signifying methicillin resistance.
  • All isolates were coagulase-negative staphylococci, a type of bacteria that does not produce the enzyme coagulase, except for one methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus found in a vet.
  • Among horses, Staphylococcus sciuri was the most common type of methicillin-resistant staphylococci. In contrast, humans predominantly carried S. epidermidis.
  • Different species of methicillin-resistant staphylococci could frequently be isolated from the same horse.
  • The equine isolates generally responded well to the tested antimicrobials, while human-sourced bacteria showed more resistance.
  • No methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was found in healthy horses, but methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci were commonly detected.

Research Conclusion and Further Studies

  • The research concluded that while healthy horses in the Netherlands did not carry methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci were frequently present.
  • The study highlighted the need for further investigations to establish if horses could be a reservoir for methicillin-resistant staphylococci or the mecA gene for humans, which could potentially contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance.

Cite This Article

APA
Busscher JF, van Duijkeren E, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM. (2005). The prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in healthy horses in the Netherlands. Vet Microbiol, 113(1-2), 131-136. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2005.10.028

Publication

Veterinary microbiology
ISSN: 0378-1135
NlmUniqueID: 7705469
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 113
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 131-136

Researcher Affiliations

Busscher, J F
  • Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands.
van Duijkeren, E
    Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan, M M

      MeSH Terms

      • Animals
      • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
      • Carrier State / epidemiology
      • Carrier State / microbiology
      • Carrier State / veterinary
      • DNA Primers / chemistry
      • Female
      • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
      • Horse Diseases / microbiology
      • Horses
      • Humans
      • Male
      • Methicillin Resistance / genetics
      • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods
      • Netherlands / epidemiology
      • Nose / microbiology
      • Penicillin-Binding Proteins
      • Pharynx / microbiology
      • Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods
      • Prevalence
      • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
      • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
      • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
      • Staphylococcus / classification
      • Staphylococcus / drug effects
      • Staphylococcus / genetics
      • Staphylococcus / isolation & purification
      • Staphylococcus aureus / genetics
      • Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification

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