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Updated: Nov 23, 2025
Multiplex PCR Assay for Typing of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome Mec Types I to V in Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Published on: September 5, 2013
One health approach to genetic relatedness in SCCmec between methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus isolates from
Jung-Hun Kang1, Cheol-Yong Hwang1
1Laboratory of Veterinary Dermatology and The Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) confers methicillin resistance and shows ability for horizontal transfer. However, little is known about the potential transfer of SCCmec between different species of staphylococci in a clinical setting. In this study, we investigated the genetic relationship of SCCmec between staphylococci isolated from dogs affected with pyoderma and their owners. Clinical isolates were collected from pyoderma lesions of dogs and from the nasal cavity and finger of owners. Clonal lineages were characterized using multi-locus sequence typing. Genetic relatedness of SCCmec in the isolates from dogs and owners was first evaluated with dru and SCCmec typing, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used to confirm the similarity of DNA sequences and the structural composition of SCCmec. A total of 100 Staphylococcus strains were isolated from 31 dog-owner pairs. One pair with isolates carrying the same SCCmec type V and dru type 11a was detected: 18D20-1 (S. pseudintermedius, dog), 18D20-2 (S. schleiferi, dog), and 18H20-F2 (S. epidermidis, dog owner). WGS revealed that these three isolates showed remarkable genetic similarity in SCCmec with respect to DNA sequences, dru type, structure composition of ccrC and the mec complex, and DR-1 in orfX, which is considered to be the insertion site of SCCmec. Entire identical nucleotide sequences of the whole SCCmec region in different Staphylococcus strains were absent between dogs and owners. However, the remarkable genetic similarity of SCCmec from staphylococci isolated from a dog and owner pair emphasizes that antimicrobial resistance surveillance adopted One Health concept should be continuously performed.
Insights
Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) showed genetic similarity between dog and owner isolates, highlighting the need for One Health antimicrobial resistance surveillance. This suggests potential SCCmec transfer in clinical settings.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Clinical Microbiology
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) is crucial for methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus species.
- The horizontal transfer of SCCmec between different staphylococcal species, especially in clinical settings involving animals and humans, is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the genetic relatedness of SCCmec elements in Staphylococcus strains isolated from dogs with pyoderma and their human owners.
- To assess the potential for SCCmec transfer between canine and human Staphylococcus populations.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of Staphylococcus strains from canine pyoderma lesions and owner nasal/finger samples.
- Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) for clonal lineage characterization.
- SCCmec typing, dru typing, and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to evaluate SCCmec genetic similarity and structure.
Main Results:
- One dog-owner pair yielded three Staphylococcus isolates (S. pseudintermedius, S. schleiferi, S. epidermidis) with highly similar SCCmec type V and dru type 11a.
- WGS confirmed remarkable genetic similarity in SCCmec DNA sequences, dru type, ccrC and mec complex structure, and the orfX insertion site (DR-1) among these isolates.
- Identical nucleotide sequences of the entire SCCmec region were not found between dog and owner isolates.
Conclusions:
- The genetic similarity of SCCmec elements in staphylococci from a dog and its owner suggests potential for transfer and highlights the importance of interspecies surveillance.
- Antimicrobial resistance surveillance must adopt a One Health approach, continuously monitoring resistance mechanisms across different species and hosts.
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