A Simple Way to Eradicate Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Cynomolgus Macaques (Macaca fascicularis)

Comp Med. 2017 Aug 1;67(4):356-359.

Abstract

Our investigation of indoor-housed cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis) by using automated identification followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed 1 of 7 immunocompetent animals and 2 of 9 immunosuppressed monkeys as carriers of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Follow-up management involving mupirocin treatment resulted in the conversion of the 3 MRSA carriers into MRSA-negative cases. Prospective assessment of newly imported monkeys involving 24-h culture of nasal swabs on chromogenic agar revealed that 22% (18 of 82 animals) were MRSA-positive. Mupirocin treatment successfully converted all of the MRSA-positive macaques into non-carriers, suggesting the feasibility of this simple, one-step screening procedure for rapidly identifying MRSA carriers in large cohorts. In addition, 8 animals that had been diagnosed MRSA-positive and subsequently treated with mupirocin demonstrated no recolonization during follow-up, even under immunosuppressive conditions. We propose rapid screening using chromogenic agar followed by mupirocin treatment as a time- and cost-effective regimen for managing MRSA in cynomolgus monkeys.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Host-Pathogen Interactions
  • Immunocompetence
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Macaca fascicularis
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / immunology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / veterinary
  • Monkey Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Monkey Diseases / immunology
  • Monkey Diseases / microbiology
  • Mupirocin / pharmacology*
  • Nasal Cavity / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Staphylococcal Infections / immunology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Mupirocin