Abstract
A national screening in 2016 identified 88% of Danish pig herds positive for livestock-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA). This highlights the importance of evaluating potential control measures that could reduce the prevalence of LA-MRSA among Danish pig herds. In addition to describing the effects of (1) reduced within-herd transmission, (2) increased biosecurity, and (3) movement restrictions, the eradication of LA-MRSA as a potential control measure was investigated using a simulation model mimicking the spread of LA-MRSA among pig herds between 2006 and 2015. The latter strategy was simulated either as eradication of a random selection of herds for surveillance or as a risk-based selection of herds based on their potential to spread LA-MRSA via pig movements in four different scenarios: low- vs. high-prevalence scenarios with control measures starting in 2007 and in 2010. Almost all control measures showed the potential to reduce the spread of LA-MRSA among pig herds, especially when implemented intensively and when control measures were combined. Risk-based selection of herds for eradication led to a greater relative reduction compared to random selection. In the high-prevalence scenario in particular, combinations including risk-based eradication led to the greatest relative reduction.
Highlights
Within the pig population, livestock-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) is an opportunistic pathogen that does not usually cause clinical signs and no treatment is required
A simulation model mimicking the spread and control of LA-MRSA among Danish pig herds between 2006 and 2015 investigated the effects of the following control measures and combinations thereof on LA-MRSA spread among pig herds[5,6]: (1) a reduction in herds using high-risk antibiotics such as tetracyclines and β-lactams, i.e. modelling herds with reduced within-herd prevalence, (2) increased biosecurity, i.e. assuming a reduced probability of indirect LA-MRSA transmission via humans, (3) movement restrictions, i.e. prohibiting the movement of pigs from LA-MRSA-positive to LA-MRSA-negative pig herds, and (4) eradication of LA-MRSA in 5–7.5% of the herds tested positive for LA-MRSA
It is important to evaluate the success of these measures under a high initial prevalence, and to study the effect of other control options that may aid in the control of LA-MRSA in Danish pig herds
Summary
Livestock-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) is an opportunistic pathogen that does not usually cause clinical signs and no treatment is required. The plan aims to reduce the use of antibiotics by 15%3 Such a reduction might not be sufficient as recent research results have shown that drastic reductions in antibiotic use are needed to limit LA-MRSA spread[4,5]. A simulation model mimicking the spread and control of LA-MRSA among Danish pig herds between 2006 and 2015 investigated the effects of the following control measures and combinations thereof on LA-MRSA spread among pig herds[5,6]: (1) a reduction in herds using high-risk antibiotics such as tetracyclines and β-lactams, i.e. modelling herds with reduced within-herd prevalence, (2) increased biosecurity, i.e. assuming a reduced probability of indirect LA-MRSA transmission via humans, (3) movement restrictions, i.e. prohibiting the movement of pigs from LA-MRSA-positive to LA-MRSA-negative pig herds, and (4) eradication of LA-MRSA in 5–7.5% of the herds tested positive for LA-MRSA. An eradication process focusing on these herds might prove useful, given the unrealistically high economic losses associated with eradicating the bacteria from all positive herds with the current high prevalence[13]
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