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Updated: May 17, 2026
Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR (RS-PCR)
Published on: November 4, 2016
Genetic characterization of Panton-Valentine leukocidin-producing methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in
Michael Berktold1, Katharina Grif, Martin Mäser
1Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Fritz-Pregl-Straße 3, Innsbruck, Austria
Background:
Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (caMRSA) is an emerging pathogen which causes potentially severe infections in young and healthy individuals due to the ability of most strains to produce Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL). The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of PVL-positive (PVL(+))-MRSA strains in Western Austria in the period from December 2005 to May 2010 and to characterize the identified PVL(+)-MRSA strains.
Methods:
Six hundred and fifty MRSA strains from Innsbruck Medical University hospital, district hospitals, and general practitioners were investigated for the presence of lukS-lukF gene (encoding for PVL). Antimicrobial resistance testing, SCCmec-, agr-, MLST- and spa-typing, as well as arcA determination were performed on PVL(+)-MRSA.
Results:
Among 650 MRSA strains collected from various body sites from hospitalized patients and outpatients, 31 strains (4.8 %) were positive for lukS-lukF and thus identified as PVL(+)-MRSA. Agr-1 was the most common agr-type (n = 18, 58.1 %) and SCCmec-IV or variants IVa and IVc were the most common SCCmec types (n = 27, 87.1 %). All tested strains showed in-vitro susceptibility to vancomycin and rifampicin, but resistance against cotrimoxazol (6.4 %), clindamycin (9.7 %), gentamicin (9.7 %), fusidic acid (12.9 %), levofloxacin (12.9 %), and erythromycin (61.3 %) was found. Most lukS-lukF-positive MRSA detected in our survey shared ST8 and t008 and were positive for arcA.
Conclusions:
The major lukS-lukF-positive MRSA lineage found in our population was ST8, t008 and positive for arcA which is mainly found in the USA. In contrast, ST80 strains were not found as frequently in our region as in many other European countries.
Insights
Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (caMRSA) strains producing Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) were studied in Western Austria. The prevalent caMRSA lineage identified was ST8, t008, and arcA-positive, a profile common in the USA.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (caMRSA) is an emerging pathogen.
- Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) production is a key virulence factor in caMRSA.
- PVL-positive MRSA can cause severe infections in healthy individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of PVL-positive MRSA in Western Austria from 2005 to 2010.
- To characterize the identified PVL-positive MRSA strains.
- To compare the findings with MRSA epidemiology in other regions.
Main Methods:
- Investigated 650 MRSA strains for the lukS-lukF gene (encoding PVL).
- Performed antimicrobial resistance testing, SCCmec, agr, MLST, and spa typing on PVL-positive MRSA.
- Determined arcA presence in PVL-positive MRSA strains.
Main Results:
- 31 out of 650 MRSA strains (4.8%) were PVL-positive.
- The most common agr-type was Agr-1 (58.1%), and SCCmec-IV variants were most common (87.1%).
- Resistance was observed against erythromycin (61.3%), fusidic acid (12.9%), and levofloxacin (12.9%).
- The majority of PVL-positive MRSA strains belonged to ST8, t008, and were arcA-positive.
Conclusions:
- The dominant PVL-positive MRSA lineage in Western Austria was ST8, t008, arcA-positive, similar to strains found in the USA.
- ST80 strains, common in other European countries, were less frequent in this Austrian cohort.
- This highlights regional variations in caMRSA clonal spread.
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