Abstract
ABSTRACT Introduction: Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) has emerged among pigs in many countries. MRSA in the pig population constitute a reservoir with risk for transmission to humans in close contact with pigs. Absence of MRSA in the top of the breeding pyramid would prevent spread to the rest of the pig population. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of MRSA in nucleus and multiplying pig herds in Sweden. Materials and methods: All nucleus and multiplying pig herds in Sweden present in 2011 (n = 53) and 2014 (n = 39) were sampled for MRSA. Results and discussion: MRSA was not detected either in 2011 or in 2014. That MRSA was not detected in the top of the breeding pyramid indicates a favourable MRSA situation in the Swedish pig population. A bbreviations: MRSA: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; LA-MRSA: livestock-associated MRSA; CC: clonal complex
Highlights
Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)) has emerged among pigs in many countries
KEYWORDS MRSA; Staphylococcus aureus; CC398; pig Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is resistant to all beta-lactam antibiotics and infections cannot be treated with antibiotics usually used for staphylococcal infections
In Denmark, the prevalence of Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) at herd level was 63% in breeding herds and 68% in slaughter herds in 2014.[3]. In a Norwegian study in 2015, 0.5% of sampled nucleus, multiplier and finishing herds were positive for LA-MRSA.[4]
Summary
Livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) has emerged among pigs in many countries. MRSA has long been a problem in human healthcare and through transmission in the community.[1] During the last decade, livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) in Europe, mainly MRSA of clonal complex (CC) 398, has emerged among pigs in many countries.[2] In Denmark, the prevalence of LA-MRSA at herd level was 63% in breeding herds and 68% in slaughter herds in 2014.[3] In a Norwegian study in 2015, 0.5% of sampled nucleus, multiplier and finishing herds were positive for LA-MRSA.[4] Norway has a national strategy including a ‘search-and-destroy’ policy with outbreak investigations, contact tracing, surveillance and stamping out of positive herds.[5] Typically, pigs carry MRSA without symptoms, there are rare reports of clinical disease.[6] the main problem with MRSA in pigs is the risk of spread to humans. In countries with low prevalence of MRSA in humans, a reservoir in pigs may give a significant contribution to the human MRSA burden.[8]
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