MRSA variant in companion animals

Birgit Walther; Lothar H Wieler; Szilvia Vincze; Esther-Maria Antão; Anja Brandenburg; Ivonne Stamm; Peter A Kopp; Barbara Kohn; Torsten Semmler; Antina Lübke-Becker

doi:10.3201/eid1812.120238

MRSA variant in companion animals

Emerg Infect Dis. 2012 Dec;18(12):2017-20. doi: 10.3201/eid1812.120238.

Authors

Birgit Walther¹, Lothar H Wieler, Szilvia Vincze, Esther-Maria Antão, Anja Brandenburg, Ivonne Stamm, Peter A Kopp, Barbara Kohn, Torsten Semmler, Antina Lübke-Becker

Affiliation

¹ Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany. walther.birgit@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylocoocus aureus (MRSA) harboring mecA(LGA251) has been isolated from humans and ruminants. Database screening identified this MRSA variant in cats, dogs, and a guinea pig in Germany during 2008-2011. The novel MRSA variant is not restricted to ruminants or humans, and contact with companion animals might pose a zoonotic risk.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Bacterial Proteins / genetics
Cats
Dogs
Germany
Guinea Pigs
Humans
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / classification
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / genetics*
Multilocus Sequence Typing
Phylogeny
Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary*

Substances

Bacterial Proteins