Serological profiles in nursery piglets colonized with Staphylococcus aureus

At present, the immune response of pigs in relation to Staphylococcus aureus carriage is poorly understood. This study aimed at investigating the dynamics of the anti-staphylococcal humoral immune response in methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA)-positive piglets and at assessing the effect of the experimental introduction of a methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) Sequence Type (ST) 398 strain. Therefore, serum samples were collected at different times from 31 weaned piglets originating from four different sows. Twenty-four out of the 31 piglets were challenged with MRSA ST398. The serum samples were analysed for IgG antibodies to 39 S. aureus antigens, using a multiplex bead-based assay (xMAP technology, Luminex Corporation). Though antibody responses showed broad inter-individual variability, serological results appeared to be clustered by litter of origin. For most antigens, an age-related response was observed with an apparent increase in antibody titres directed against staphylococcal microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules (MSCRAMMs), which have been shown to play a role in S. aureus colonization. In most animals, antibody titres directed against staphylococcal toxins or immune-modulating proteins decreased with age, possibly reflecting absence of bacterial invasion. The introduction of MRSA ST398 did not elicit a significant humoral immune reaction. This study describes, for the first time, the humoral immune response in weaned pigs colonized with S. aureus

Relation between antimicrobial use and resistance in Belgian pig herds

The aim of this study was to determine the link between the characteristics of antimicrobial therapy and occurrence of antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli of clinically healthy pigs exposed to antimicrobial treatments. A total of 918 Escherichia coli isolates were obtained from faecal samples, collected from 50 pig herds at the end of the fattening period and susceptibility was tested towards 15 different antimicrobial agents, using the disk diffusion method

High prevalence of USA300 among clinical isolates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus on St. Kitts and Nevis, West Indies

Limited information is available on antimicrobial susceptibility and clonal distribution of Staphylococcus aureus in the Caribbean region. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistance among S. aureus isolates and to reveal the frequency and population structure of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in St. Kitts and Nevis, a small island country in the West Indies. A total of 152 S. aureus isolates were collected from consecutive samples submitted to the clinical microbiology laboratory of the main referral hospital from March 2017 to January 2018. Samples came from all units in the hospital and a small number came from external submissions, and comprised a total of 119 clinical specimens and 33 nasal swabs collected from staff and patients. All S. aureus isolates were confirmed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) of clinically relevant antimicrobials were determined by broth microdilution, and diversity of MRSA isolates was assessed by whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis. MRSA accounted for 45% (69/152) of the isolates. The highest rates of resistance to non-β-lactam agents were observed for erythromycin (55%), moxifloxacin (41%), and levofloxacin (40%), whereas resistance to the other drugs tested was ≤6%. All isolates were susceptible to ceftaroline, linezolid, teicoplanin, telavancin, and vancomycin. WGS-based multilocus sequence typing (MLST) showed that approximately 88% of the MRSA isolates belonged to ST8. Phylogenetic analysis on 801 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) identified among the MRSA ST8 isolates indicates a large degree of genetic diversity. However, all ST8 strains clustered within the distinct clade that defines the USA300 North American Epidemic lineage (Panton-Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) +, arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) +, Staphylococcal cassettes chromosome mec IVa (SCCmec IVa)). Our data show high levels of methicillin, macrolide, and fluoroquinolone resistance among S. aureus on St. Kitts and Nevis. The USA300 North American epidemic lineage is responsible for the vast majority of MRSA infections on this Caribbean island

Prevalence and distribuion of staphylococcal enterotoxin genes among Staphylococcus aureus isolates from chicken and turkey carcasses in Algeria

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗThis study is aimed to determine the prevalence of staphylococcus aureus (S.aureus) by biochemical tests in poultry carcasses. It is also intend to detect the distribution of genes for classical staphylococcal enterotoxins A, B, C, D and E (sea, seb, sec, sed and see) and for gene femA, specific for S.aureus species, using multiplex PCR. A total of 385 samples of neck skins from fresh poultry carcasses were collected during the period 2012-2013 from 16 different slaughterhouses located in the region of Algiers, Algeria. The overall prevalence of S.aureus in freshly slaughtered poultry carcasses was 41.56%, with an individual prevalence of 40.63% and 45.71% for chicken and turkey respectively. From the 95 strains of S.aureus identified by biochemical tests, 82 (86.32%) isolates were femA positive using multiplex PCR. The investigation has also revealed the presence of both enterotoxins B and D, with a predominance of seb (13.33%) followed by sed (1.67%), in the chicken carcasses while in turkey only sed was detected (4.55%) It has been found that strains of S.aureus of poultry origin can be enterotoxigenic with the predominance of genes encoding for enterotoxins seb in chicken and sed in turkey. As enterotoxins can be produced in adequate amounts to induce foodborne illnesses, these potential dangers must be considered in terms of a real risk to public health

Transmission study of Salmonella in pigs with 3 intervention strategies

In this study, the effect of 3 different intervention strategies on the transmission of Salmonella in pigs was evaluated: feed supplementation with coated calcium-butyrate salt, vaccination and acidified drinking water. Strategies were evaluated serologically and bacteriologically using an experimental in vivo seeder setup. Significantly higher antibody titers were detected in the groups with acidified drinking water and vaccination

Longitudinal study on transmission of MRSA CC398 within pig herds

Background Since the detection of MRSA CC398 in pigs in 2004, it has emerged in livestock worldwide. MRSA CC398 has been found in people in contact with livestock and thus has become a public health issue. Data from a large-scale longitudinal study in two Danish and four Dutch pig herds were used to quantify MRSA CC398 transmission rates within pig herds and to identify factors affecting transmission between pigs. Results Sows and their offspring were sampled at varying intervals during a production cycle. Overall MRSA prevalence of sows increased from 33% before farrowing to 77% before weaning. Overall MRSA prevalence of piglets was > 60% during the entire study period. The recurrent finding of MRSA in the majority of individuals indicates true colonization or might be the result of contamination. Transmission rates were estimated using a Susceptible-Infectious-Susceptible (SIS-)model, which resulted in values of the reproduction ratio (R0) varying from 0.24 to 8.08. Transmission rates were higher in pigs treated with tetracyclins and ß-lactams compared to untreated pigs implying a selective advantage of MRSA CC398 when these antimicrobials are used. Furthermore, transmission rates were higher in pre-weaning pigs compared to post-weaning pigs which might be explained by an age-related susceptibility or the presence of the sow as a primary source of MRSA CC398. Finally, transmission rates increased with the relative increase of the infection pressure within the pen compared to the total infection pressure, implying that within-pen transmission is a more important route compared to between-pen transmission and transmission through environmental exposure. Conclusion Our results indicate that MRSA CC398 is able to spread and persist in pig herds, resulting in an endemic situation. Transmission rates are affected by the use of selective antimicrobials and by the age of pigs