Human‐associated Staphylococcus aureus strains within great ape populations in Central Africa (Gabon). (11th February 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nagel, M.; Dischinger, J.; Türck, M.; Verrier, D.; Oedenkoven, M.; Ngoubangoye, B.; Le, G.; Drexler, J. F.; Bierbaum, G.; Gonzalez, J.‐P.; Lina, G.
• Is Part Of: Clinical microbiology and infection. Volume 19:Number 11(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1072
• Page End: 1077
• Publication Date: 2013-02-11
• Subjects: Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; Diagnostic microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; 616.01
• DOI: 10.1111/1469-0691.12119
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1198-743X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" xml:lang="en" id="clm12119-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>The risk of serious infections caused by <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> is well‐known. However, most studies regarding the distribution of (clinically relevant) <italic>S. aureus</italic> among humans and animals took place in the western hemisphere and only limited data are available from (Central) Africa. In this context, recent studies focused on <italic>S. aureus</italic> strains in humans and primates, but the question of whether humans and monkeys share related <italic>S. aureus</italic> strains or may interchange strains remained largely unsolved. In this study we aimed to evaluate the distribution and spread of human‐like <italic>S. aureus</italic> strains among great apes living in captivity. Therefore, a primate facility at the International Centre for Medical Research of Franceville (Gabon) was screened. We detected among the primates a common human <italic>S. aureus</italic> strain, belonging to the <italic>spa</italic>‐type t148. It was isolated from three different individuals of the western lowland gorilla (<italic>Gorilla gorilla gorilla</italic>), of which one individual showed a large necrotizing wound. This animal died, most probably of a staphylococcal sepsis. Additionally, we discovered the t148 type among chimpanzees (<italic>Pan troglodytes</italic>) that were settled in the immediate neighbourhood of the infected gorillas. A detailed analysis by pulsed field gel electrophoresis showed that the gorilla and chimpanzee isolates represented two closely related strains. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a human‐associated <italic>S. aureus</italic> strain causing disease in great apes. The simultaneous detection in gorillas and chimpanzees indicated an interspecies transmission of this <italic>S. aureus</italic> strain. Our results recommend that protection of wild animals must not only be based on habitat conservation, but also on the assessment of the risk of contact with human pathogens.</p> </abstract>