Detection of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the microbial flora from the conjunctiva of healthy donkeys from Sicily (Italy). (23rd April 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Foti, Maria; Fisichella, Vittorio; Giacopello, Cristina
• Is Part Of: Veterinary ophthalmology. Volume 16:Number 2(2013)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 92
• Publication Date: 2012-04-23
• Subjects: Veterinary ophthalmology -- Periodicals; 636.08977
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2012.01028.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1463-5216

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en"> <title>Abstract</title> <p> <bold>Objective </bold> To describe the bacterial flora present in the normal conjunctiva of donkeys from Sicily (Italy).</p> <p> <bold>Animals studied </bold> A total of 46 healthy donkeys housed in 3 locations within the territory of Palermo (Sicily, Italy) were studied. Donkeys ranged from 2 to 13 years of age, with a median age of 6 years.</p> <p> <bold>Procedures </bold> Forty‐six conjunctival swabs were obtained from both eyes of each animal, and specimens were cultured for aerobic bacteria. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of methicillin (1 μg) and oxacillin (5 μg) on <italic>Staphylococcus</italic> spp. isolates was evaluated, and a specific PCR assay, which allows the detection of <italic>mec</italic>A gene specific for methicillin‐resistant <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> (MRSA) strains, was performed.</p> <p> <bold>Results </bold> Forty of 46 (86.9%) donkeys were positive for bacteria. Eighty bacterial isolates, representing 9 bacteria genera, were successfully cultured. The most frequently recovered bacterial genus was <italic>Staphylococcus</italic> (52/80 isolates; 65%). Several strains (20/80 isolates; 25%) belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family were also isolated, among which the most frequently isolated genus was <italic>Enterobacter</italic> (eight isolates). Of the 52 <italic>Staphylococcus</italic> spp. isolates, 14 (26.9%) strains were oxacillin/methicillin resistant. The <italic>mec</italic>A gene was detected in 6/52 (11.5%) strains.</p> <p> <bold>Conclusions </bold> This study contributes to the knowledge about normal ocular flora and MRSA occurrence in donkey farms in Sicily.</p> </abstract>