Detection of mecC-Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates in river water: a potential role for water in the environmental dissemination
Investigation article published in Environmental Microbiology
December 1st, 2014
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)is a public health concern due to limited treatment options. The recent description of a mecA homologue, mecC in human and cattle, led to studies to detect this new variant in human and other animal species. Detection of mecC in wild boar and fallow deer in a Spanish game estate led us to further investigate the presence of mecC-MRSA at this location. Samples from cattle, wild animals, workers and river water were tested. A further three mecC-MRSA isolates were obtained from river water. Molecular characterization (multilocus sequence typing and spa
typing) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (broth microdilution) showed that isolates were similar to those detected in wild animals. Whole genome sequencing confirmed that the isolates from the river water and wild animals in the same geographic área were all closely related isolates of ST425 mecCMRSA. The presence of mecC-MRSA in the river wáter highlights the potential role of water in the dissemination of mecC-MRSA
Porrero MC., Harrison EM., Fernandez-Garayzabal JF., Paterson GK., Diez-Guerrier A., Holmes MA. and Dominguez L..
 | Servicio de Zoonosis de Transmisión Alimentaria y Resistencia a Antimicrobianos (ZTA). Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET). Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
| Departamento de Sanidad Animal. Facultad de Veterinaria. Universidad Complutense (UCM). |
 | Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. University of Cambridge. |
