Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carrying mecA or mecC in dairy cattle

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has received a lot of attention in recent years as a zoonotic organism of global concern. Contaminated milk, especially those from mastitic cows, serve as reservoirs for humans in the epidemiology of antibiotic resistant MRSA. This study was designed to determine the level of contamination of bulk fresh milk from dairy cattle herds with MRSA in Ibarapa, Oyo and Oke-Ogun areas of Oyo State and the antibiotic resistance profile of the isolates. One hundred and sixty-five (165) milk samples were obtained from the study areas and used for the study. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from the samples using bacterial culture and biochemical tests. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was identified using cefoxitin disk diffusion method. All the S. aureus isolates were subjected to microbial susceptibility test. Ninety (54.5%) milk samples were positive for Staphylococcus spp. out of which 52 (31.5%) were Staphylococcus aureus and 13 (7.9%) yielded MRSA. Antibiogram of S. aureus indicated highest resistance to Cloxacillin (88.5%) followed by (Augmentin 67.3%) and Ceftrazidine (67.3%). Ten out of the 13 MRSA isolates were multidrug resistance while all the isolates were 100% susceptible to ofloxacin. The results of this study showed that milk produced from dairy cattle in Oyo State was contaminated with MRSA. This portends serious food safety and public health risk among the consumers of such milk especially in raw or improperly pasteurized form. Proper dairy herd health management and prudent use of antibiotics and hygienic milking procedures are hereby recommended to prevent contamination of milk and subsequent spread of the organism to humans.

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First mecC and mecA Positive Livestock-Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (mecC MRSA/LA-MRSA) from Dairy Cattle in Malaysia

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms8020147 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 147 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Erkihun Aklilu ◽

Hui Ying Chia

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Dairy Cattle ◽

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Meca Gene ◽

Pcr Amplification ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Methicillin Resistant ◽

Unpasteurized Milk ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Tests ◽

Pcr Targeting

Livestock associated Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (LA-MRSA) was reported to be zoonotic and may transmit to farmers and veterinarians. The objectives of this study were to investigate the occurrence of LA-MRSA from dairy cattle and to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance profiles of the isolates. A total of 63 milk and 32 nasal swab samples were randomly collected from dairy cattle. The samples were processed to isolate S. aureus, MRSA and LA-MRSA using both phenotypic and molecular methods using PCR. The confirmed S. aureus isolates were cultured on oxacillin resistant screening agar base (ORSAB) to detect MRSA and the isolates were further confirmed by PCR targeting the mecA gene. Detection of the novel mecA gene, mecC gene was conducted by PCR amplification. The antimicrobial susceptibility tests were conducted using disc diffusion method. Results revealed 17/95 (17.89%) and 15/95 (15.79%) were positive for mecA and mecC genes respectively. Out of the 15 mecC positive isolates, 12 were positive for both mecA and mecC. The MRSA isolates showed multidrug resistance. The findings showed high prevalence of mecC-positive LA-MRSA in Malaysia and highlight the public health risks to people that may come in contact with the carrier animals or those who may consume unpasteurized milk products from these animals.

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