Dissemination of metal resistance genes among animal methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative Staphylococci. (April 2016) - Argudín, M. Angeles
Abstract: The use of metals as feed supplement has been recognized as a potential driver for co-selection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pigs. However, the prevalence of these determinants in methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) is largely unknown. In this study, a collection of 130 MRCoNS from pigs and veal calves were investigated for the presence of metal-resistance genes ( czrC, copB, cadD, arsA ) associated to SCC mec . Near half of the isolates carried metal resistance genes ( czrC 5.4%, copB 38.5%, cadD 7.7%, arsA 26.2%) regardless of their SCC mec type. The increased use of metals in livestock animals, especially zinc in pigs in several European countries may co-select for methicillin-resistance in several staphylococcal species. Highlights: Methicillin-resistant non- Staphylococcus aureus staphylococci carried metal resistance genes. Presence of metal resistance genes not linked to specific SCC mec types copB and arsA genes were frequent among S. epidermidis from pigs.