Staphylococcus aureus in Animals and Food: Methicillin Resistance, Prevalence and Population Structure. A Review in the African Continent

Abstract

The interest about Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in livestock, and domestic and wild animals has significantly increased. The spread of different clonal complexes related to livestock animals, mainly CC398, and the recent description of the new mecC gene, make it necessary to know more about the epidemiology and population structure of this microorganism all over the world. Nowadays, there are several descriptions about the presence of S. aureus and/or MRSA in different animal species (dogs, sheep, donkeys, bats, pigs, and monkeys), and in food of animal origin in African countries. In this continent, there is a high diversity of ethnicities, cultures or religions, as well as a high number of wild animal species and close contact between humans and animals, which can have a relevant impact in the epidemiology of this microorganism. This review shows that some clonal lineages associated with humans (CC1, CC15, CC72, CC80, CC101, and CC152) and animals (CC398, CC130 and CC133) are present in this continent in animal isolates, although the mecC gene has not been detected yet. However, available studies are limited to a few countries, very often with incomplete information, and many more studies are necessary to cover a larger number of African countries.

Isolation of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Producing Enterotoxins A, K and Q From Chicken Meat in Isfahan, Iran, 2014

“…On the other hand, the contamination might be due to contact of humans with large numbers of animals in the farms (24). In addition, improper handling of the meat at the slaughterhouse, processing facilities, storage of food at high temperature at the retail stores and close contact with butchers are some of the possible reasons for contamination of the meat samples (24).…”

Methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus: a controversial food-borne pathogen

“…; Kraushaar and Fetsch ; Lozano et al . ). A wide variation in MRSA prevalence has been observed, depending on the geographical area where each investigation was conducted.…”

“…To date, a great number of studies have reported the isolation (with variable frequencies) of MRSA from livestock, wild animals and derived foods, both raw and ready to eat, as well as from professionals working in the animal husbandry or the food production chain settings (Wendlandt et al 2013;Kraushaar and Fetsch 2014;Lozano et al 2016). A wide variation in MRSA prevalence has been observed, depending on the geographical area where each investigation was conducted.…”

Aerobic bacteriological studies on the respiratory tracts of apparently healthy and pneumonic camels (Camelus dromedaries) in selected districts of Afar Region, Ethiopia

“…Staphylococcus aureus is known to occur as a commensal on the skin, the nose, and mucous membranes of healthy humans and animals and also an opportunistic pathogen in multiple infectious diseases (Lozano et al 2016). In this study, S. aureus was the commonest bacteria in the pneumonic lungs, 16.3%, which is higher when compared the report of Al-Tarazi (2001), 10.6%, from lung lesions of camels.…”