Abstract
This work investigated the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from veterinarians in Australia in 2009. The collection (n = 44) was subjected to extensive molecular typing (MLST, spa, SCCmec, dru, PFGE, virulence and antimicrobial resistance genotyping) and antimicrobial resistance phenotyping by disk diffusion. MRSA was isolated from Australian veterinarians representing various occupational emphases. The isolate collection was dominated by MRSA strains belonging to clonal complex (CC) 8 and multilocus sequence type (ST) 22. CC8 MRSA (ST8-IV [2B], spa t064; and ST612-IV [2B], spa variable,) were strongly associated with equine practice veterinarians (OR = 17.5, 95% CI = 3.3–92.5, P < 0.001) and were often resistant to gentamicin and rifampicin. ST22-IV [2B], spa variable, were strongly associated with companion animal practice veterinarians (OR = 52.5, 95% CI = 5.2–532.7, P < 0.001) and were resistant to ciprofloxacin. A single pig practice veterinarian carried ST398-V [5C2], spa t1451. Equine practice and companion animal practice veterinarians frequently carried multiresistant-CC8 and ST22 MRSA, respectively, whereas only a single swine specialist carried MRSA ST398. The presence of these strains in veterinarians may be associated with specific antimicrobial administration practices in each animal species.
Highlights
Since the turn of the millennium our understanding of the ecological niches and genetic diversity of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has changed markedly
In our previous study evaluating the prevalence of MRSA carriage among Australian veterinarians, we identified those veterinarians with horses as a major area of work emphasis had a prevalence of 11.8% and those whose only major emphasis was horses had a prevalence of 21.4%
CC22 was most frequently isolated from companion animal veterinarians (10/14, 71.4%) and consisted of one sequence type (ST), ST22, which harboured SCCmec IV [2B]
Summary
Since the turn of the millennium our understanding of the ecological niches and genetic diversity of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has changed markedly. Several distinct lineages of MRSA are known to inhabit and cause clinical infections in animals including horses, companion animals (i.e. dogs and cats) and intensively managed livestock. Molecular Epidemiology of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Australian Veterinarians
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