Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus CC22-MRSA-IV as an agent of dairy cow intramammary infections.

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) lineages have become major responsible of healthcare-and community-associated infections in human population. Bovine MRSA are sporadically detected in the dairy herd, but its presence might enhance the risk of zoonosis. Some lineages are able to lose the specific host tropism, being easily transmitted from animals to humans and vice-versa. The present study aims at clarifying the epidemiology of MRSA intramammary infections in a closed dairy herd, which was running a mastitis control program since years. Quarter milk samples were collected from all lactating cows once a week for 9 weeks and bacteriologically tested. At the end of the follow-up period, also a self taken nasal swab of the milker was analysed. Three cows (12.5%) were MRSA positive, a four showed a transient infection and an MRSA was isolated also from the milker. Somatic cell counts of the infected quarters fluctuated from 1,000 to 1,800,000 cells/mL. All isolates were genotyped using DNA microarrays and identified as the epidemic UK-EMRSA-15 grouping in CC22. All strains carried the genes for {beta}-lactam and macrolide resistance. The milker isolate differed from cow isolates mainly for the absence of the untruncated {beta}-haemolysin and the presence of the immune evasion cluster. The milker had been volunteering in a nursing home since months, thus playing the role of MRSA vector into the herd. Our results showed the adaptive capacity of such MRSA to the bovine host. Therefore, we suggest that CC22-MRSA should be regarded as a potential cause of humanosis in dairy cattle herds.