Open AccessOccurrence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in the pig-production chain in Ibadan, Nigeria
Author(s) -
Opeyemi U. Lawal,
Abimbola Olumide Adekanmbi,
Olawale Olufemi Adelowo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
onderstepoort journal of veterinary research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.563
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 2219-0635
pISSN - 0030-2465
DOI - 10.4102/ojvr.v88i1.1959
Subject(s) - staphylococcus , staphylococcus xylosus , veterinary medicine , cefoxitin , staphylococcus aureus , microbiology and biotechnology , methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus , biology , medicine , bacteria , genetics
Staphylococcus species colonises humans and animals and is a major food contaminant with public health significance. Here, we assessed the occurrence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) in the pig-production chain in Ibadan, Nigeria. Nares of 120 pigs and 10 farmers were sampled with sterile swabs whilst 54 pork samples were collected from a retail slaughterhouse. Staphylococcus species were isolated using enrichment, cefoxitin–aztreonam selective broth and Mannitol salt agar. Isolates were tested for susceptibility to cefoxitin (30 μg), oxacillin (1 μg) and vancomycin (30 μg). Methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolates were characterised using conventional biochemical tests. From 184 samples, 364 staphylococcal isolates were obtained. Amongst the 54 pork samples, 44.0% were contaminated with Staphylococcus species. Overall, 9 (2.5%) MRS were obtained and presumptively identified as Staphylococcus xylosus (n = 3), Staphylococcus sciuri (n = 3), Staphylococcus warneri (n = 2) and Staphylococcus cohnii (n = 1). There was no relationship between the prevalence of MRS between pigs and pig handlers in the farms, but Farm 2 had the highest frequency of 66.7% (p 0.05). Piglets had the highest prevalence of 66.7% (p 0.05) whilst MRS was absent in workers and pork samples. This study raises concerns about the cross-contamination of staphylococci in the food chain. Constant surveillance is imperative to ensure food safety.