Molecular Characterization of MRSA Isolated from Camels and their Surrounding Environment

Abstract

To investigate the effect of the environment in MRSA transmission to camels, this study was performed in North Coast area and Al America District (Mariot Station), Egypt on camels (Camelus dromedarius), comprising 30 females and 10 males aged between one and five years old. A total of 100 various samples including nasal swabs (40), milk (30), soil (15) and water (15) were collected from 40 camels to isolate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus using oxacillin resistance screening agar basal medium (ORSAB) beside determination of antibiogram pattern of the recovered isolates and molecular detection of some genes responsible for antibiotic resistance. It was found that the recovery rate of MRSA was 12.5, 6.67, 13.3 and 6.67% from the examined samples, respectively. Multidrug resistance was displayed by all MRSA isolates with 100% resistance to Cefoxitin and penicillin and with 80% resistance to Gentamycin, while 90% of the isolates were susceptible to Doxycycline, Linezolid and Ofloxacin and 70% to Sulfamethoxazole/Trimethoprim. Finally, MRSA strains were discovered in camels and the surrounding area, suggesting that they may contribute to the spread of the pathogen among animals and people as well as within the community. Disinfecting soil and water using a selective, effective disinfectant may be a solution to this issue.