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Carriage of meticillin‐resistant staphylococci between humans and animals on a small farm
Author(s) -
Loncaric Igor,
Künzel Frank,
Klang Andrea,
Wagner Regina,
Licka Theresia,
Grunert Tom,
Feßler Andrea T.,
GeierDömling Dorothe,
Rosengarten Renate,
Müller Elke,
Reissig Annett,
Spergser Joachim,
Schwarz Stefan,
Ehricht Ralf,
Monecke Stefan
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
veterinary dermatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.744
H-Index - 60
eISSN - 1365-3164
pISSN - 0959-4493
DOI - 10.1111/vde.12321
Subject(s) - staphylococcus haemolyticus , carriage , meticillin , staphylococcus epidermidis , microbiology and biotechnology , staphylococcus aureus , staphylococcus , staphylococcal infections , transmission (telecommunications) , medicine , biology , micrococcaceae , veterinary medicine , antibacterial agent , bacteria , antibiotics , pathology , genetics , electrical engineering , engineering
Background Meticillin‐resistant staphylococci (MRS) are pathogens of increasing importance to human and animal health worldwide. Transmission of meticillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) between animals and humans has been well documented. By contrast, information about transmission of other Staphylococcus spp. is limited. Hypothesis/Objectives The aim of this study was to screen animals and humans on a small farm for nasal carriage of MRS and to assess interspecies exchange. Methods After detection of MRSA in a lung sample of a deceased cat, which lived on a small mixed farm, nasal swabs were taken within two weeks, four and 16 months from other animals of various species and humans living on the farm. Swabs were cultured for MRS which were then characterized molecularly. Results MRSA and meticillin‐resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MRCoNS), including Staphylococcus haemolyticus , S. epidermidis and S. fleurettii, were isolated from humans and different animal species. Typing of the MRS revealed isolates with the same characteristics in different human and animal hosts. Conclusions and clinical importance To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of carriage of both MRSA and MRCoNS among humans and various animals within a shared environment. The detection of strains with indistinguishable molecular characteristics strongly suggested transmission of these MRS between the various animal species and humans.