The newly described mecA homologue, mecALGA251, is present in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from a diverse range of host species

Abstract

Objectives: A previously unidentified mecA homologue, mecA LGA251 , has recently been described in methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from humans and dairy cattle. The origin and epidemiology of this novel homologue are unclear. The objective of this study was to provide basic descriptive information of MRSA isolates harbouring mecA LGA251 from a range of host animal species.Methods: A number of S. aureus isolates from historical animal isolate collections were chosen for investigation based on their similarity to known mecA LGA251 MRSA isolates. The presence of mecA LGA251 was determined using a multiplex PCR and antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed by disc diffusion.Results: MRSA harbouring mecA LGA251 were found in isolates from a domestic dog, brown rats, a rabbit, a common seal, sheep and a chaffinch. All of the isolates were phenotypically MRSA, although this depended on which test was used; some isolates would be considered susceptible with certain assays. All isolates were susceptible to linezolid, rifampicin, kanamycin, norfloxacin, erythromycin, clindamycin, fusidic acid, tetracycline, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and mupirocin. Five multilocus sequence types were represented (2273, 130, 425, 1764 and 1245) and six spa types (t208, t6293, t742, t6594, t7914 and t843). Conclusions:The discovery of MRSA isolates possessing mecA LGA251 from a diverse range of host species, including different taxonomic classes, has important implications for the diagnosis of MRSA in these species and our understanding of the epidemiology of this novel mecA homologue.

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): A Review

“…But in countries like Denmark, Netherland and Belgium, the report of MRSA CC398 in livestock is high (Köck et al, 2009a;Köck et al, 2009b). Epidemiological studies in UK indicate the spread of LA-MRSA into hospitals particularly in individuals with frequent animal contact (Paterson et al, 2012). Recently, there is evidence of MRSA transmission between human-to-animals and animals-to-humans (Umaru et al, 2011).…”

“…Lately, a new methicillin resistance mechanism gene, mecC was described in S. aureus (Porrero et al, 2014). García-Álvarez et al (2011), Paterson et al (2012), Walther et al (2012) and Paterson et al (2014) reported MRSA isolates carrying mecC gene from humans and animals. suggested the public health hazard of mecC-positive MRSA isolates as it has been isolated in human case and their livestock.…”

Characterization of Livestock-Associated Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureusCC398 andmecC-positive CC130 from Zoo Animals in the United Kingdom

“…is linked to the acquisition of mecA gene but a novel homolog, mecC located in a new staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) cassette (SCCmec XI), has been identified and shown to have a 69% DNA sequence similar to mecA allotypes. 9 Isolates harboring mecC typically yield negative results for conventional mecA PCR, which can translate in detection errors in a subset of MRSA isolates 10 and subsequent therapeutic and public health implications.…”

“…12 Molecular characterization of isolates was performed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), 13 SCCmec typing (type I-IV, XI), 10,14 and spa sequence typing. 15 The spa types were determined using the spaTyper software available at http://spatyper.fortinbras.us.…”

A Staphylococcus xylosus Isolate with a New mecC Allotype

“…As a result, the transpeptidase activity of PBP2a is functional at normally inhibitory concentrations of beta-lactam antibiotics, allowing cell wall synthesis to occur (2)(3)(4). Recently, a novel variant of mecA was identified in Staphylococcus aureus from cattle (5), humans, and a range of other animal species (6) in Denmark, France, The Netherlands, Ireland, Germany, Belgium, and the United Kingdom (5,(7)(8)(9)(10)(11). This subtype was originally designated mecA LGA251 but has since been renamed mecC and shares 70% nucleotide identity with the conventional mecA gene.…”