Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is an expanding public health concern and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a notable example. Since the discovery of livestock associated MRSA (LA-MRSA), public health concerns have arisen surrounding the potential of LA-MRSA isolates to serve as a reservoir for AMR determinants. In this study, we compare swine associated LA-MRSA ST5 and human clinical MRSA ST5 isolates for phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibilities determined via broth microdilution and genotypic determinants of AMR using whole genome sequencing and comparative genomic analysis to identify AMR elements. Swine associated LA-MRSA ST5 isolates exhibited phenotypic resistance to fewer antibiotics than clinical MRSA ST5 isolates from humans with no swine contact. Distinct genomic AMR elements were harbored by each subgroup, with little overlap in shared AMR genes between swine associated LA-MRSA ST5 and clinical MRSA ST5 isolates. Our results demonstrate that phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibilities and genotypic determinants of AMR among swine associated LA-MRSA ST5 and clinical MRSA ST5 isolates are separate and distinct.
Highlights
Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections is complicated by the acquisition of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) encoding antimicrobial resistance (AMR)
We evaluate the prevalence and diversity of AMR phenotypes and genetic determinants conferring AMR between LA-Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) ST5 isolates from a variety of swine associated sources and clinical MRSA ST5 isolates from humans with no swine contact to assess isolates for shared resistance elements or phenotypic resistance patterns
These data indicate that AMR was generally less extensive among swine associated livestock associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) ST5 isolates than clinical MRSA ST5
Summary
Treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections is complicated by the acquisition of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) encoding antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Most notable of these is the SCCmec element harboring mecA (less commonly mecB or mecC) which encodes resistance to methicillin (Jevons, 1961). While LA-MRSA are less able to colonize and cause disease in humans than HA- and CA-MRSA isolates (Cuny et al, 2009; Uhlemann et al, 2012; Walter et al, 2016), they often harbor multiple AMR genes and can be a source for genes encoding uncommon AMR determinants, such as the multidrug resistance gene cfr and the lincosamide, pleuromutilin, and streptogramin A resistance genes vga(C) and vga(E) (Kadlec et al, 2012; Li et al, 2015; Aires-de-Sousa, 2016)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
