Characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from broiler farms in Germany are rather lineage- than source-specific. (3rd August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kittler, Sophie; Seinige, Diana; Meemken, Diana; Müller, Anja; Wendlandt, Sarah; Ehricht, Ralf; Monecke, Stefan; Kehrenberg, Corinna
• Is Part Of: Poultry science. Volume 98:Number 12(2019:Dec.)
• Page Start: 6903
• Page End: 6913
• Publication Date: 2019-08-03
• Subjects: MRSA -- broiler -- antimicrobial resistance -- clonal complex -- PCR; Poultry -- Periodicals; Poultry -- Periodicals; Poultry Diseases -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 636.5005
• DOI: 10.3382/ps/pez439
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0032-5791

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are a major concern for public health, and broiler farms are a potential source of MRSA isolates. In this study, a total of 56 MRSA isolates from 15 broiler farms from 4 different counties in Germany were characterised phenotypically and genotypically. Spa types, dru types, SCC mec types, and virulence genes as well as resistance genes were determined by using a DNA microarray or specific PCR assays. In addition, PFGE profiles of isolates were used for analysis of their epidemiological relatedness. While half of the isolates belonged to spa type t011, the other half was of spa types t1430 and t034. On 3 farms, more than 1 spa type was found. The most common dru type was dt10a (n = 19), followed by dt11a (n = 17). Susceptibility testing of all isolates by broth microdilution revealed 21 different resistance phenotypes and a wide range of resistance genes was present among the isolates. Up to 10 different resistance phenotypes were found on individual farms. Resistance to tetracyclines (n = 53), MLSB antibiotics (n = 49), trimethoprim (n = 38), and elevated MICs of tiamulin (n = 29) were most commonly observed. Microarray analysis detected genes for leucocidin ( lukF/S ), haemolysin gamma ( hlgA ), and other haemolysines in all isolates. In all t1430 isolates, the egc cluster comprising of genes encoding enterotoxin G, I, M, N, O, U, and/or Y was found. The splitstree analysis based on microarray and PCR gene profiles revealed that all CC9/SCC mec IV/t1430/dt10a isolates clustered apart from the other isolates. These findings confirm that genotypic patterns were specific for clonal lineages rather than for the origin of isolates from individual farms.