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Updated: Apr 5, 2026
Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA
Published on: February 9, 2011
Isolation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from small ruminants and their meat at slaughter and retail
D Sergelidis1, T Papadopoulos2, D Komodromos1
1Department of Hygiene and Technology of Foods of Animal Origin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Unlabelled:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents major health risk for humans causing serious nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Asymptomatic food-producing animal carriers and their meat may represent potential reservoirs for human infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of MRSA in small ruminants raised under free-range conditions and their meat at slaughter and retail level in Northern Greece. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 9·6% of the examined samples. All isolates were resistant at least to one antibiotic, whereas 59·3% of them were multidrug resistant (MDR) exhibiting resistance to three or more antibiotic classes. The higher resistance rates were observed against penicillin (100%), tetracycline (74%), clindamycin (59·3%) and erythromycin (51·9%). Resistance to cefoxitin was exhibited by 22·2% of the isolates, but only one isolate was found to carry the mecA gene and belonged to spa type t127. This is the first time this type of Staph. aureus is isolated in Greece from the surface of a small ruminant's carcass. The presence of multidrug resistant Staph. aureus, and especially MRSA, in small ruminants and their meat, represents a potential threat for the spread of this pathogen in the community.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
This study is the first report on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in small ruminants and their meat at slaughter level in Greece, elucidating a possible vehicle food for transmission to humans. These results suggest that human or animal sources could be involved in meat contamination and thus sources of contamination require investigation to control the dispersion of MRSA in the community.
Insights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was found in small ruminants and their meat in Greece, posing a potential public health risk. This study highlights the need to investigate contamination sources to control MRSA spread.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Food Safety
- Public Health
Background:
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant cause of human infections.
- Food-producing animals can act as reservoirs for MRSA, potentially transmitting it to humans through meat.
- The prevalence of MRSA in small ruminants and their meat in Greece was previously uninvestigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of MRSA in free-range small ruminants and their meat in Northern Greece.
- To characterize the antibiotic resistance patterns of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from these sources.
- To identify potential transmission routes of MRSA from animals to humans.
Main Methods:
- Bacteriological examination of small ruminants and their meat samples.
- Antibiotic susceptibility testing of isolated Staphylococcus aureus strains.
- Detection of the mecA gene and spa typing for MRSA characterization.
Main Results:
- Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 9.6% of samples.
- All isolates showed resistance to at least one antibiotic; 59.3% were multidrug-resistant (MDR).
- High resistance rates were observed for penicillin, tetracycline, clindamycin, and erythromycin. One MRSA isolate (spa type t127) was identified.
Conclusions:
- This is the first report of MRSA in small ruminants and their meat in Greece.
- Small ruminants and their meat can serve as a food vehicle for MRSA transmission to humans.
- Further investigation into human and animal sources of contamination is crucial for MRSA control.
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