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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius detected in the BfT-GermVet
Stefan Schwarz1, Kristina Kadlec, Birgit Strommenger
1Institute of Farm Animal Genetics, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Höltystr. 10, 31535 Neustadt-Mariensee, Germany. stefan.schwarz@fal.de
Objectives:
During recent years, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains from animals have become the focus of various studies. In the present study, coagulase-positive staphylococci obtained from pigs, dogs and cats suffering from acute infections, which had been collected in the BfT-GermVet monitoring programme in Germany and phenotypically identified as oxacillin-resistant, were characterized.
Methods:
The staphylococci were comparatively investigated for their resistance phenotypes and genotypes. Resistance genes were identified by PCR. MRSA strains were further characterized by SmaI macrorestriction analysis and spa typing to assess their genomic relationships.
Results:
Among the 248 strains tested, 7 strains (5 porcine S. aureus and 2 canine Staphylococcus pseudintermedius) carried the resistance gene mecA. Gentamicin resistance was based on the presence of the gene aacA/aphD while three different tetracycline resistance genes, tet(K), tet(L) and tet(M), alone or in combinations, were detected. The single macrolide/lincosamide-resistant strain carried an erm(A) gene. All MRSA strains proved to be non-typeable by SmaI macrorestriction analysis and exhibited the spa types t011 (four strains) or t034 (one strain).
Conclusions:
Based on their spa types and their non-respondence to SmaI digestion, all five porcine MRSA strains resembled MRSA strains of multilocus sequence type ST398, previously detected among pigs in neighbouring countries such as The Netherlands or Denmark. The results of this study indicate that such strains are also involved in defined disease conditions of pigs from various parts of Germany.
Insights
This study identified methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in pigs, dogs, and cats in Germany. Five porcine MRSA strains were genetically similar to the ST398 type, suggesting their involvement in animal infections.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Antimicrobial Resistance
- Molecular Epidemiology
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in animals is a growing concern.
- Studies are needed to characterize MRSA strains involved in animal infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize oxacillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci from infected pigs, dogs, and cats in Germany.
- To determine the resistance profiles and genetic relatedness of these strains.
Main Methods:
- Phenotypic and genotypic analysis of 248 staphylococcal strains.
- Identification of resistance genes using PCR.
- MRSA strain characterization via SmaI macrorestriction analysis and spa typing.
Main Results:
- Seven strains (5 porcine S. aureus, 2 canine Staphylococcus pseudintermedius) carried the mecA gene.
- Various resistance genes (aacA/aphD, tet(K/L/M), erm(A)) were detected.
- Porcine MRSA strains were non-typeable by SmaI and showed spa types t011 or t034.
Conclusions:
- The five porcine MRSA strains are genetically similar to ST398 MRSA found in pigs in neighboring countries.
- These MRSA strains are implicated in specific disease conditions in pigs across Germany.
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