Volume: 4, 2025
4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland:
ENVIRONMENT – PLANT – ANIMAL – PRODUCT
Abstract number: A009
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.A009
Published online: 9 April 2025
ICDSUPL, 4, A009 (2025)
Polish lowland sheep as a reservoir of Staphylococcus aureus
Agata Hahaj-Siembida1*, Aneta Nowakiewicz1, Monika Greguła-Kania2, Marcelina Osińska1, Anna Tracz1, Mariola Bochniarz 1, Monika Krajewska-Wędzina1, Aleksandra Trościańczyk1
1 Department of Preclinical Veterinary Sciences, Sub-Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 12, 20-400 Lublin, Poland
2 Department of Animal Breeding and Agricultural Advisory, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Akademicka 13, 20-950 Lublin, Poland
* Corresponding author: agata.hahaj-siembida@up.lublin.pl
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium that is common in humans and animals. S. aureus can be a component of the body’s natural biota, but can also cause infections. The aim of the study was to identify the class and molecular identity of coagulase-positive S. aureus treated from Polish lowland sheep and to assess the level of drug resistance and virulence of these microorganisms and epidemiological molecular analysis. The material used in the study was based on swabs taken from Polish lowland sheep. Samples were taken from the oral cavity of sheep. The study was conducted on 25 sheep (n=25 samples). Standard bacteriological media dedicated to Staphylococcus spp. (e.g. Mannitol Salt Agar and Baird Parker) were used to isolate bacteria, and then the strains were confirmed by multiplex-PCR. Then, the disk diffusion method (Kirby-Bauer) was used to assess drug resistance according to the CLSI standard. Thirteen antibiotics were used: erythromycin, cefoxitin, gentamicin, rifampicin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, clindamycin, penicillin G, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim, tetracycline, nitrofurantoin, linezolid, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol. S. aureus isolates were examined 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). Then, a dendrogram of S. aureus strain similarity was prepared. Staphylococcus aureus accounted for 60% of isolates. The isolated strains were resistant to six of the thirteen antibiotics used. The strains showed the highest resistance to penicillin, which was 53.3%, additionally 20% were resistant to linezolid, 13.3% to clindamycin and tetracycline, and 6.7% of strains were resistant to erythromycin and chloramphenicol. The following resistance genes (cat pC194, tetK, tetM, blaZ, erm B, aph(3)-IIIa, acc(6′)-Ie) and virulence genes ( seB, Luk E-Luk D) were detected in S. aureus strains. Based on the results of ADSRRS-fingerprinting of S. aureus isolates, a dendrogram containing 15 genotypic profiles was obtained, in which two different profiles were distinguished, overlapping 100% in 4 isolates and 100% in 3 isolates. In conclusion, sheep may be a reservoir for S. aureus, which may be resistant to numerous antimicrobials. Many strains of S. aureus may possess multiple resistance and virulence genes, which may pose a challenge to clinicians and animal producers.
Keywords: Staphylococcus aureus, small ruminants, Polish lowland sheep
How to cite
A. Hahaj-Siembida, A. Nowakiewicz, M. Greguła-Kania, M. Osińska, A. Tracz, M. Bochniarz, M. Krajewska-Wędzina, A. Trościańczyk, 2025. Polish lowland sheep as a reservoir of Staphylococcus aureus. In: 4th International PhD Student’s Conference at the University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Poland: Environment – Plant – Animal – Product. https://doi.org/10.24326/ICDSUPL4.A009