Molecular detection of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus associated with mastitis in goats

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is an emerging concern in the world while combating with a wide range of pathogen associated with various disease conditions. It is considered as a silent pandemic nowadays. A constant monitoring and measures for controlling emergence of antimicrobial resistance are crucial in the current situation. The present study was conducted with the objective of detection of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) associated with mastitis in goats. Milk samples were collected from 66 goats suffering from mastitis and screened for the presence of S. aureus. Conventional microbiological tests and species specific PCR were employed for the species confirmation. A total of 10 samples (15.15%) were found to be positive for S. aurues. Among the ten isolates of S. aureus obtained two isolates (3.03%) were found to harbour mecA gene suggestive of the presence of MRSA phenotype. All the isolates were negative for the presence of pvl gene which is present in highly virulent strains. In short, even though the study demonstrated the presence of MRSA at a lower rate, the results are of a marked public health significance due to the zoonotic significance of the pathogen.