Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Other Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci and Mammaliicoccus (MRNaS) Associated with Animals and Food Products in Arab Countries: A Review

The prevalence of methicillin resistance in staphylococci has been increasing globally and is currently one of the major public health concerns. In particular, treating infections caused by staphylococci with acquired antimicrobial resistance is problematic, as their treatment is more difficult. The resistance is found both in human and animal staphylococcal strains. Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) have also been increasingly reported in wildlife. In Arab countries, MRS has been detected in food producing animals and food products; however, the risk this poses is somewhat unclear, and still a significant lack of information on the trend and distribution of these pathogens in these countries, which have a specific ecosystem (desert) and traditions (Muslim culture). In this manuscript, we aim to provide an overview of the prevalence and the major MRS clonal lineages circulating in these specific countries and compare to them other situations with different ecosystems and cultures

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Other Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci and Mammaliicoccus (MRNaS) Associated with Animals and Food Products in Arab Countries: A Review

Simple Summary Staphylococci are present in the microbiota of both humans and animal species, being recognized as the most important opportunistic pathogens. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become a global public health issue presenting a significant risk because it severely limits treatment options. Methicillin resistance in staphylococci (MRS) poses a specific problem as it may cause serious human and animal infections, eventually resulting in death. The increasing observation of MRS in different animal species has raised the concern of their impact on animal health and the potential of zoonotic transmission. The availability of comprehensive data on the ecology and distribution of MRS in animals and food products worldwide is necessary to understand their relevance in the "One Health" domain. However, there is a gap in information in terms of MRS and the Arab countries. Therefore, our study aimed to provide an overview of the situation of MRS in these countries by reviewing the available data on livestock and animal products and making recommendations for the future. The prevalence of methicillin resistance in staphylococci has been increasing globally and is currently one of the major public health concerns. In particular, treating infections caused by staphylococci with acquired antimicrobial resistance is problematic, as their treatment is more difficult. The resistance is found both in human and animal staphylococcal strains. Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) have also been increasingly reported in wildlife. In Arab countries, MRS has been detected in food producing animals and food products; however, the risk this poses is somewhat unclear, and still a significant lack of information on the trend and distribution of these pathogens in these countries, which have a specific ecosystem (desert) and traditions (Muslim culture). In this manuscript, we aim to provide an overview of the prevalence and the major MRS clonal lineages circulating in these specific countries and compare to them other situations with different ecosystems and cultures

Prevalence and Molecular Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci (MRS) and Mammaliicocci (MRM) in Dromedary Camels from Algeria: First Detection of SCC<i>mec</i>-<i>mecC</i> Hybrid in Methicillin-Resistant <i>Mammaliicoccus lentus</i>

Dromedary camels are an important source of food and income in many countries. However, it has been largely overlooked that they can also transmit antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to identify the Staphylococcaceae bacteria composition of the nasal flora in dromedary camels and evaluate the presence of methicillin-resistant Mammaliicoccus (MRM) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRS) in dromedary camels in Algeria. Nasal swabs were collected from 46 camels from seven farms located in two different regions of Algeria (M’sila and Ouargla). We used non-selective media to determine the nasal flora, and antibiotic-supplemented media to isolate MRS and MRM. The staphylococcal isolates were identified using an Autoflex Biotyper Mass Spectrometer (MALDI-TOF MS). The mecA and mecC genes were detected by PCR. Methicillin-resistant strains were further analysed by long-read whole genome sequencing (WGS). Thirteen known Staphylococcus and Mammaliicoccus species were identified in the nasal flora, of which half (49.2%) were coagulase-positive staphylococci. The results showed that four out of seven farms were positive for MRS and/or MRM, with a total of 16 isolates from 13 dromedary camels. The predominant species were M. lentus, S. epidermidis, and S. aureus. Three methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) were found to be ST6 and spa type t304. Among methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE), ST61 was the predominant ST identified. Phylogenetic analysis showed clonal relatedness among M. lentus strains, while S. epidermidis strains were not closely related. Resistance genes were detected, including mecA, mecC, ermB, tet(K), and blaZ. An SCCmec type VIII element was found in a methicillin-resistant S. hominis (MRSH) belonging to the ST1 strain. An SCCmec-mecC hybrid element was detected in M. lentus, similar to what was previously detected in M. sciuri. This study highlights that dromedary camels may be a reservoir for MRS and MRM, and that they contain a specific set of SCCmec elements. This emphasizes the need for further research in this ecological niche from a One Health perspective