Distribution and Clonal Diversity of Staphylococcus aureus and Other Staphylococci in Surface Waters: Detection of ST425-t742 and ST130-t843 mecC-Positive MRSA Strains

Abstract

Natural aquatic environments represent one of the most important vehicles of bacterial dissemination. Therefore, we aimed to isolate staphylococci from surface waters and to investigate the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors as well as the genetic lineages of all Staphylococcus aureus isolates. Staphylococci were recovered from water samples collected from 78 surface waters, including rivers, streams, irrigation ditches, dams, lakes, and fountains. The presence of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors was investigated by PCR. Multilocus sequence typing and spa-typing were performed in all S. aureus isolates. From the 78 water samples, 33 S. aureus, one S. pseudintermedius, and 51 coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) were identified. Among the S. aureus isolates, four MRSA were identified, and all harbored the mecC gene. Fourteen S. aureus were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested and the remaining showed resistance to penicillin, erythromycin and/or tetracycline encoded by the blaZ, ermT, msr(A/B), tetL, and vgaA genes. Regarding the clonal lineages, one mecC-MRSA isolate belonged to spa-type t843 and sequence type (ST) 130 and the other three to t742 and ST425. The remaining S. aureus were ascribed 14 spa-types and 17 sequence types. Eleven species of CoNS were isolated: S. sciuri, S. lentus, S. xylosus, S. epidermidis, S. cohnii spp. urealyticus, S. vitulinus, S. caprae, S. carnosus spp. Carnosus, S. equorum, S. simulans, and S. succinus. Thirteen CoNS isolates had a multidrug resistance profile and carried the following genes: mecA, msr(A/B), mph(C), aph(3′)-IIIa, aac(6′)-Ie–aph(2′’)-Ia, dfrA, fusB, catpC221, and tetK. A high diversity of staphylococci was isolated from surface waters including mecCMRSA strains and isolates presenting multidrug-resistance profiles. Studies on the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci in surface waters are still very scarce but extremely important to estimate the contribution of the aquatic environment in the spread of these bacteria.

Nocturnal Birds of Prey as Carriers of Staphylococcus aureus and Other Staphylococci: Diversity, Antimicrobial Resistance and Clonal Lineages

“…mec C-MRSA belonging to ST1245 has been reported in bovine samples in the UK and in a bat in Germany associated with spa -type t843, as well as in horses from France, but, in this case, was associated with a different spa -type [ 45 , 46 , 47 ]. The mec C isolate lacked the IEC system genes, which is in accordance with most studies reporting mec C-MRSA and suggests a possible animal origin [ 13 , 20 , 48 , 49 ]. In fact, the presence of the IEC type E in mec C-positive isolates seems to be associated with ST1945 (CC130) since it has only been reported in those isolates [ 20 , 50 , 51 ].…”

“…Therefore, as far as we know, this is the first study reporting a mec C-postive MRSA isolated from owls. In addition to the mec C gene, this isolate also harbored bla Z-SCC mec XI, which is a bla Z allotype associated with SCC mec XI as previously reported [ 13 ]. In turn, the SCCmec XI is also associated with the mecC gene [ 41 ].…”

“…The MRSA isolate was ST1245, which belongs to CC130 and spa -type t843. In Portugal, the mec C gene has been reported only in two studies, one conducted in wild rodents and another in surface waters, and the clonal lineages detected in those isolates differ from the one identified in this study [ 13 , 20 ]. mec C-MRSA belonging to ST1245 has been reported in bovine samples in the UK and in a bat in Germany associated with spa -type t843, as well as in horses from France, but, in this case, was associated with a different spa -type [ 45 , 46 , 47 ].…”

“…SCC mec elements are highly diverse and are currently classified into 14 types as well as various subtypes [ 10 ]. The mec C gene was first reported over a decade ago and since then it has been detected in staphylococci isolated from several different hots and sources [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. More recently, mec D and plasmid-borne mec B genes have also been identified in S. aureus and Macrococcus caseolyticus, respectively [ 9 , 15 ].…”

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Peninsular Malaysian Animal Handlers: Molecular Profile, Antimicrobial Resistance, Immune Evasion Cluster and Genotypic Categorization

“…Furthermore, no significant differences were observed when analysing the carriage rate of MDRSA or S. aureus with AMR traits according to the usage of antibiotics within a three-month period, suggesting short-term antibiotic usage alone was unlikely to cause the emergence of AMR. However, it is possible that these participants were colonized by S. aureus with AMR traits through direct contact with infected animals or humans with a prolonged antibiotic usage history, environmental agents and animal food products contaminated with AMR bacteria [ 10 , 11 , 32 , 33 , 34 ]. In the present study, S. aureus from individuals with exposure to poultry were found to have a higher resistance rate against tetracycline and erythromycin as compared to other animal species, suggesting there might be a relationship between these two variables.…”