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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA
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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus MRSA

Published on: February 9, 2011

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Carriage of meticillin-resistant staphylococci between humans and animals on a small farm

Igor Loncaric1, Frank Künzel2, Andrea Klang3

  • 1Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinaerplatz 1, Vienna, A-1210, Austria.

Veterinary Dermatology
|May 19, 2016
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Meticillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS), including MRSA, were found in both humans and animals on a small farm. Molecular evidence strongly suggests transmission of these resistant bacteria between species within this shared environment.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Public Health
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Meticillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) pose a growing threat to human and animal health globally.
  • While meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) transmission between humans and animals is known, data on other Staphylococcus species is scarce.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate nasal carriage of MRS in humans and animals on a small farm.
  • To determine the extent of interspecies exchange of MRS within this environment.

Main Methods:

  • Following MRSA detection in a deceased cat, nasal swabs were collected from resident humans and various animal species over 16 months.
  • MRS isolates were cultured and molecularly characterized to identify strains and assess transmission patterns.

Main Results:

  • MRSA and meticillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS), including Staphylococcus haemolyticus, S. epidermidis, and S. fleurettii, were isolated from both humans and animals.
  • Molecular typing revealed identical MRS strains in different human and animal hosts, indicating successful interspecies transmission.

Conclusions:

  • This study reports the first co-carriage of MRSA and MRCoNS in humans and diverse animal species within a shared farm environment.
  • The presence of indistinguishable MRS strains strongly supports transmission events between animals and humans, highlighting the One Health aspect of antimicrobial resistance.

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