ICDSUPL3-A011

Volume: 3, 2024
3^rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT

Abstract number: A011

DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.A011

Published online: 24 April 2024

ICDSUPL, 3, A011 (2024)

Small ruminants as a reservoir of resistant and virulent Staphylococcus aureus

Agata Hahaj-Siembida¹*, Aneta Nowakiewicz¹, Monika Greguła-Kania², Aleksandra Trościańczyk¹, Marcelina Osińska¹, Anna Tracz¹, Mariola Bochniarz¹, Monika Krajewska-Wędzina¹

¹ Sub-Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland

² Department of Animal Breeding and Agricultural Advisory, Faculty of Animal Sciences and Bioeconomy, University of Life Sciences, Lublin, Poland

^{* Corresponding author: agata.hahaj-siembida@up.lublin.pl}

Abstract

Bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus spp. are common in humans and animals. S. aureus can cause infections but also constitute a component of the body’s natural biota. Drug-resistant strains of S. aureus have also become a serious problem in recent years. The objective of the study was to identify the species and molecular identification of coagulase-positive S. aureus originated from small ruminants (sheep) and assessment of the level of drug resistance and virulence of these microorganisms. The research was carried out on two breeds of sheep (Świniarka breeds and Polish Lowland Sheep). A total of 200 individuals were examined (100 Świniarka sheep and 100 Polish Lowland Sheep). Four swabs were taken from each animal: from the mouth, ears, skin and anus. A total of 800 tests were performed (n = 800). Standard selective-differentiation media dedicated to Staphylococcus spp. (e.g. Mannitol Salt Agar and Baird Parker) were used for bacteria isolation, then strains were confirmed by multiplex-PCR. Drug resistance was assessed by (Kirby-Bauer) disc diffusion method according to CLSI standard. Thirteen antibiotics were used and they were: erythromycin (E15) 15 mcg, cefoxitin (FOX30) 15 mcg, gentamicin (CN10) 10 mcg, rifampicin (RD5) 5 mcg quinupristin/ dalfopristin (QD15) 15 mcg, clindamyci (DA2) 2 mcg, penicillin g (P10) 10iu, sulphamethoxazole/ trimethoprim (SXT25) 25 mcg, tetracycline (TE30) 30 mcg, nitrofurantoin (F300) 300 mcg, linezolid (LZD30) 30 mcg, ciprofloxacin (CIP5) 5mcg, chloramphenicol (C30) 30 mcg.) Staphylococcus aureus isolates have been tested for resistance genes (mecA, mecC, blaZ, ermA, ermB, ermC, msrA, cat pC223, cat pC221, cat pC194, tetK, tetM, tetL, acc(6′)-le, and aph(3)-IIIa) and virulence genes (seA, seB, seC, seD, and seE, TSST-1, PVL, and LukE-LukD). Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 87 isolates. The isolated strains were resistant to nine of the thirteen antibiotics used. The strains showed the highest resistance to penicillin, which accounted for 29%, additionally 22% were resistant to tetracycline, 10% to clindamyci, linezolid and 7% of strains were resistant to erythromycin and chloramphenicol. Only 4% of the strains were resistant to cefoxitin, and 1% of the strains to ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. However, the strains were 100% susceptible to gentamicin, rifampicin, nitrofurantoin and quinupristin/dalfopristin. The following resistance genes (mecA, mecC, cat pC194, tetK, tetM, tetL, blaZ, erm B, aph(3)-IIIa) and virulence genes (seA, seB, seC, seD, seE, TSST-1, PVL, Luk E-Luk D) were detected in S. aureus strains. In conclusion, the sheep can be a reservoir of resistant Staphylococcus such as S. aureus. The problem of drug resistance concerns also other ruminanece. Staphylococcus, especially S. aureus, can be resistant to numerous antimicrobials even if animals were not subjected to targeted therapy. Many strains of S. aureus have numerous resistance and virulence genes, which may pose problems in the diagnosis and treatment of animals.

Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, small ruminants, drug resistance, virulence

How to cite

A. Hahaj-Siembida, A. Nowakiewicz, M. Greguła-Kania, A. Trościańczyk, M. Osińska, A. Tracz, M. Bochniarz, M. Krajewska-Wędzina, 2024. Small ruminants as a reservoir of resistant and virulent Staphylococcus aureus. In: 3rd International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL3.A011