Antibiotic-resistance Staphylococcus aureus isolated from cow's milk in the Hawassa area, South Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Quarter milk samples from cows were examined to determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) and different antibiotic resistant pattern were determined in a cross-sectional study design.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to isolate Staphylococcus aureus from samples of cow's milk obtained from Hawassa area and to determine their antibiotic susceptibility patterns.
METHOD: A total of 160 milk (CCP1-CCP5) samples were collected and screened for the presence of S. aureus. Gram staining, oxidase, catalase, DNase, haemolysis and coagulase tests were employed for bacterial identification.
RESULTS: All the samples were contaminated with S. aureus. A total of 78 S. aureus isolates were obtained during this study. The levels of contamination with S. aureus were higher in milk obtained from CCP1, CCP2, CCP3, CCP4 and CCP5 at Hawassa area farms (18.0%, 25.6%, 27.0%, 21.8% and 7.7%) respectively. A large percentage of the S. aureus isolates (25.6% and 27.0%) were from CCP2 and CCP3. All strains were resistant to Penicillin G (PG) (10 μg), Ampicillin (AP) (10 μg), Amoxicillin-Clavulanic acid (AC) (30 μg), Ciprofloxacin (CIP) (5 μg), Erythromycin (E) (15 μg), Ceftriaxone (CRO) (30 μg), Trimethoprime-Sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMZ) (25 μg) Oxacillin (Ox) (1 μg) and Vancomycin (V) (30 μg), 67.9%, 70.9%, 30.9%, 0%, 32.1%, 23.1%, 7.7%, 60.3% and 38.5% respectively.
CONCLUSION: The proportion of isolates resistant to CIP, TMP-SMZ, CRO, AC, E and V were low compared to AP, PG and Ox. S. aureus is normally resident in humans; therefore, the S. aureus present in the cow's milk may have resulted from transmission between the two species, emphasizing the need to improve sanitary conditions in the milking environment.

Introduction

Staphylococcus aureus is a ubiquitous human pathogen and a common cause of invasive and life threatening infections. It is the most common cause of community-associated cellulitis [1,2] endocarditis [3], and is a common cause of bacteremia [1,4,5]. S. aureus strains were once nearly uniformly susceptible to semi-synthetic penicillinase-resistant β-lactams (e.g. methicillin, oxacillin), the most commonly used class of antibiotics for skin infection. These strains were termed ‘methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, a term that implied cross-resistance to all β-lactams including all penicillins and cephalosporins.

Staphylococci are normal inhabitants of the skin and mucous membranes of animals and humans. Pathogenic strains are usually coagulase-positive [6] and have been found to cause disease in their hosts throughout the world [7,8]. Diseases in cattle caused by Staphylococcus aureus range from simple abscesses and mastitis to the more severe toxic shock syndrome [7-9]. Milk is an excellent growth medium for a large number of micro-organisms, including S. aureus[10]. Bacterial contamination of milk usually occurs during the milking process and this depends on the sanitary condition of the environment, utensils used for milking and the milking personnel. It could also result from micro-organisms that enter the udder through the teat opening canal [10].

Antibiotic-resistant S. aureus isolates pose a severe challenge to both veterinary and health professions and dairy cattle producers because they have a negative impact on therapy [11,12]. The usage of antibiotics correlates with the emergence and maintenance of antibiotic-resistant traits within pathogenic strains [13]. These traits are coded for by particular genes that may be carried on the bacterial chromosome, plasmids, transposons or on gene cassettes that are incorporated into integrons [14], thus are easily transferred among isolates. Multiple antibiotic resistant S. aureus strains have been isolated from milk obtained from cattle, beef and human samples in many parts of the world [13,15-18]. The prevalence of antibiotic resistance usually varies between isolates from the different sampled stations and even between isolates from different herds on the same farm [16].

Determination of levels of S. aureus and an evaluation of the antibiotic-resistant phenotypes of the isolates could serve as a tool for determining the hygiene standards implemented during milking. Data on antibiotic resistance could also be used to characterize these opportunistic pathogens, which may further limit the risks associated with the consumption of contaminated milk and its products [19]. The aim of this study was to isolate S. aureus from milk obtained from farm level collected milk and further characterization of their susceptibility patterns to nine selected antibiotics.

Methods and materials

Area of the study and collection of samples

A cross-sectional study design was used to determine the bacteriological analysis of cow milk in Hawassa town from August 2011-January 2012. A total of 160 milk samples (five samples per family from different HACCP levels) were collected. The study on antibiotic resistance of S. aureus isolation was included 32 families of the farms. All of these farms were Hybrid Holland breed herd with average age of 7 years old. An average herd size of the farm was 10 in number and a milking technique of the study community was manual. These farms are situated in the Southern part of Ethiopia at 250 km far apart from the capital city of the country.

Samples of approximately 10 mL of fresh milk were collected from different critical control points (CCP1-CCP5) using sterile sample collection bottles. The samples were immediately transported on ice to the Medical Microbiology Laboratory of the Hawassa University – Referral Hospital for analysis. Upon arrival in the Laboratory, samples were analyzed immediately.

Isolation of presumptive S. aureus from milk samples

Ten-fold serial dilutions were performed using 2% peptone water and aliquots of 100 μL from each dilution were spread plated onto mannitol salt agar (MSA) (Supplied by Oxoid Company). The plates were incubated aerobically at 37°C for 18 h – 24 h. Consequently, the 78 characteristic S. aureus colonies that were yellow in color from each MSA plate were further purified by sub-culturing onto MSA plates and the plates were incubated aerobically at 37°C for 18 h–24 h. These isolates were retained for further bacterial identification.

Bacterial identification

Gram staining was performed [20] and Gram-positive cocci that occurred in clusters under the microscope were subjected to preliminary biochemical tests (the catalase and oxidase tests). The identities of the isolates were confirmed based on positive results for the DNase test, beta-haemolytic patterns on blood agar enriched with 5% (v/v) sheep blood and the coagulase slide test for S. aureus using the (PROLD Diagnostics, Canada). The slide agglutination test was performed according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Briefly, cells from a pure colony were placed on the clean area of the slide using a sterile toothpick and a drop of the PROLD reagent was added. These were mixed using the toothpick and the isolates were identified based on the formation of agglutination. An isolates that formed agglutination were recorded as S. aureus and maintained at 4°C in 30% glycerol for further characterization by antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Antibiotic susceptibility

Antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed on all S. aureus isolates to determine their antibiotic-resistance profiles [21]. Fresh overnight cultures were prepared and used for antibiotic sensitivity tests. An aliquot (100 μL) from each isolate suspension was spread plated on Mueller Hinton agar (supplied by Oxoid Company). Susceptibilities of the isolates to a panel of nine different antibiotic discs (6 μm in diameter, Mast group LTD MERSEY SIDE, UK) were determined. The antibiotics tested in this study were mostly developed resistant by bacteria as documented in South Africa [22,23]. Antibiotic discs were gently pressed onto the inoculated Mueller Hinton agar to ensure intimate contact with the surface and the plates were incubated aerobically at 37°C for 18 h – 24 h [24]. Inhibition zone diameters were measured and values obtained from the National Committee on Clinical Laboratory Standards [24] were used to interpret the results obtained. S. aureus isolates were then classified as resistant, intermediate resistant or susceptible to a particular antibiotic. Multiple antibiotic resistant (MAR) phenotypes were recorded for isolates showing resistance to three and more antibiotics [25].

Results

Prevalence of S. aureus in tested milk samples

A total of 160 milk samples (32 per HACCP level) were analyzed and were 78 positive for S. aureus (Table 1). A total of 210 potential isolates were sub-cultured and further analyzed. However, only 78 isolates satisfied all the identification criteria and were used for subsequent analysis. These constituted a total of 78 S. aureus isolates (Table 1). S. aureus was obtained from each of the 32 different critical control point (CCP) samples taken per HACCP level, giving a prevalence of S. aureus of 48.75% for the 160 samples. The results demonstrated the presence of S. aureus in all the milk samples, regardless of the farm setting. However, the levels of contamination with S. aureus were higher in milk samples obtained in this study area (Table 1).

Table 1

Details of the isolates obtained from Hawassa area, South Ethiopia

Sample source	HACCP level	# of sample Collected	% of S. aureus isolates (level of contamination) with S. aureus per HACCP level)a
Teat	CCP1	32	14 (17.9%)
Bucket at farm level	CCP2	32	20 (25.7%)
From storage containers at milk collection center	CCP3	32	21 (26.9%)
From transportation container	CCP4	32	17 (21.8%)
After cooling at the pasteurization plant	CCP5	32	6 (7.7%)
			100%

a Percentages were calculated from a total of 78 bacterial isolates studied using the biochemical identification method to determine those positive for S. aureus.

All 78 S. aureus isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility tests. Nine antimicrobial agents, from different antibiotic classes were used. Some were selected because some studies have shown that large numbers of bacteria were resistant to them [22,23]. Antibiotics of veterinary and human health relevance were also considered. A summary of the percentage of S. aureus that were resistant to these antibiotics is provided in Table 2.

Table 2

Antibiotic-resistance profiles of isolated from milk originating from Hawassa area, South Ethiopia (n = 78)

Sample source of milk	Antibiotic resistance (%)
	PG	AP	AC	CIP	E	CRO	TMP	Ox	VA
Teat	64.3	64.3	14.3	0.0	21.4	14.3	7.1	57.1	57.1
Bucket at farm level	35.0	35.0	10.0	0.0	10.0	5.0	0.0	15.0	70.0
From storage containers at milk collection center	71.4	71.4	14.3	0.0	19.0	9.5	0.0	66.7	57.1
From transportation container	100	100	94.1	0.0	88.2	76.5	23.5	100	23.5
After cooling at the pasteurization plant	83.3	83.3	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	83.3	50.0

Note: Percentages were calculated by dividing the number confirmed as S. aureus resistant in a particular sample source by the total number of isolates tested.

A large proportion of the isolates of this study area were resistant to Ampicillin (10 μg), Penicillin G (10 μg), and Oxacillin (1 μg), while a similarly large proportion of those from the transportation container were resistant to, Ampicillin (10 μg), penicillin G (10 μg), Erythromycin, (15 μg), Ceftriaxone (10 μg), Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid (30 μg), and Oxacillin (1 μg). There were no resistant groups for Ciprofloxacin (5 μg) antibiotics.

In general observation the large percentage of Penicillin G (10 μg), Ampicillin (10 μg) and Oxacillin (1 μg) resistant S. aureus were isolated from the study area. These were also resistant to several other antibiotics. Therefore, one can easily conclude that these are Methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA).

Only a small proportion of the isolates from the teat, bucket and storage container were resistant to Trimethoprime-Sulfamethoxazole (25 μg); Erythromycin (15 μg); Ceftriaxone (30 μg) and Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid (30 μg). None of the isolates from bucket, storage container and freshly pasteurized milk were resistant to TMP-SMX (25 μg). Furthermore, 23.5-70% of the isolates from the sample were resistant to Vancomycin (30 μg), while 15-100% of those isolated was resistant to Oxacillin (1 μg).

MAR phenotypes of S. aureus

Multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) phenotypes were determined for S. aureus (Table 3). The predominant MAR phenotypes for S. aureus isolated from this study area were PG-AP-AC-E-CRO-Ox and PG-AP-Ox in 19.2% and 20.5% of the isolates, respectively. Furthermore, MAR phenotypes PG-AP-AC-TMX-Ox-VA, PG-AP-AC-E-TMX-Ox-VA and PG-AP-TMX-Ox were obtained in 1.3% of the isolates. The MAR phenotypes PG-AP-AC-E-TMX-Ox, PG-AP-AC-E-CRO-Ox-VA and PG-AP-E were obtained in 1.3% of the isolates. Also PG-AP-AC-E-Ox-VA 3.8% and PG-AP-Ox-VA 7.7% were the MAR phenotypes for S. aureus isolated from this study area (Table 3).

Table 3

The predominant multiple antibiotic resistant phenotypes for isolated from cow’s milk obtained from Hawassa area farms, South Ethiopia (n  78)

Phenotype	Number observed	Percentage
PG-AP-E	2	2.7
PG-AP-Ox	16	20.5
PG-AP-Ox-VA	6	7.7
PG-AP-TMX-Ox	1	1.3
PG-AP-AC-E-Ox-VA	3	3.8
PG-AP-AC-E-CRO-Ox	15	19.2
PG-AP-AC-E-CRO-Ox-VA	2	2.7
PG-AP-AC-E-TMX-Ox-VA	1	1.3
PG-AP-AC-E-TMX-Ox	2	2.7
PG-AP-AC-TMX-Ox-VA	1	1.3

Note: The percentage representations of the phenotypes were obtained by dividing the number of a particular phenotype by the total number of multiple antibiotic resistant isolates identified in a given area. VA, Vancomycin; AP, Ampicillin; PG, Penicillin G; TMP-SMX, Trimethoprime-Sulfamethoxazole; E, Erythromycin; Ox, Oxacillin ; CRO, Ceftriaxone; CIP, Ciprofloxacin; AC, Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid.

It is thus evident that MAR S. aureus was isolated from all CCP. However, among the isolates from this study area 62.8% of the isolates develop MAR. Among all MAR phenotypes of S. aureus, 42.9% of them were resistance to six different antibiotics and 6.1% were resistance to seven antibiotics. Fifty one percent (51%) of them were resistance to 3 or 4 antibiotics.

Discussion

In this study we described the isolation and antibiotic susceptibility characterization of S. aureus from milk obtained from five different CCP levels. Our results indicate that 40.6% of the samples were positive for S. aureus and that more of these bacteria were positively identified from milk samples. Several studies have been conducted in South Africa to evaluate the prevalence of S. aureus in milk [13,26,27]. The results reported in our study were similarly high when compared to those studies [13,27]. Although the prevalence of S. aureus has been reported to vary with the size and geographic region of the area sampled, a high proportion of these bacteria in milk relates to poor hygiene practices. Based on observations made during the collection of samples, we therefore report that improper hygiene and poor farm management practices contributed to the presence of S. aureus in the milk, especially in those from the Hawassa area. In this study area milk was obtained from animals by washing their hands and/or the utensils and containers used. In certain cases, untreated groundwater was used to wash the containers that were used for milking. This may have contributed to the high level of S. aureus isolated. Improving the hygienic conditions of the milking environment and/or utensils may reduce the prevalence of S. aureus in milk and prevent its transmission to humans.

A further objective of the study was to characterize and compare the antibiotic-resistance profiles of S. aureus isolated from the study area. The motivation for this was the fact that there were no clear studies conducted in the area. Furthermore, the presence of antibiotic-resistant S. aureus has been reported to negatively affect the treatment of its associated infections in humans and animals [12,15,23]. We therefore believe that an investigation of the antibiotic-resistance profiles of these isolates may serve as a tool in assessing both the sanitary conditions employed during milking and the health risks that humans may encounter when infected by antibiotic-resistant strains.

PG (10 μg), AP (10 μg) and Ox (1 μg) were the drugs to which a large proportion of the isolates were resistant (Table 4). As shown in Table 4, between 60.0% and 67.9% of the isolates from all CCP levels were resistant to these three drugs. Also VA (30 μg), AC (30 μg), E (15 μg) and CRO (30 μg) were resistance to S. aureus about 38.5%, 32.1%, 30.8% and 23.5% respectively. None of the S. aureus were resistance to CIP (5 μg). However, very small proportions of S. aureus were resistance to TMP-SMX (25 μg) (7.7%). Contrarily to our observations, a study reported that larger percentage (15.7% to 19%) of S. aureus isolated was resistant to TMP-SMX (25 μg) [28]. The finding that a large number of S. aureus were resistant to PG (10 μg), AP (10 μg) and Ox (1 μg) is, however, a cause for concern and should be further investigated. It is thus our view that the results obtained in this study do not accurately reflect the usage of this antibiotic on farms. We cannot explain this phenomenon.

Table 4

Antibiotic-resistance profiles of from all CCP levels isolated from milk originating from Hawassa area, South Ethiopia (n = 78)

Organism	Antibiotic resistance (%)
	PG	AP	AC	CIP	E	CRO	TMP	Ox	VA
S. aureus	67.9	67.9	30.8	0.0	32.1	23.1	7.7	60.3	38.5

Note: Percentages were calculated by dividing the number confirmed as S. aureus resistant in a particular sample source by the total number of isolates tested.

VA, Vancomycin; AP, ampicillin; PG, penicillin G; TMP-SMX, Trimethoprime-Salfamethoxazole; E, erythromycin; Ox, Oxacillin ; CRO, Ceftriaxone; CIP, Ciprofloxacin; AC, Amoxicillin-Clavulanic Acid.

CIP (5 μg) resistance was almost non-existent in the all CCP levels of the isolates. Also no resistance S. aureus strain was isolated from immediate pasteurized milk for AC (30 μg), E (15 μg), CRO (30 μg), TMP-SMX (25 μg) and CIP (5 μg). Despite the fact that a significantly larger number of S. aureus isolated from immediate pasteurized milk was resistant to PG (10 μg), AP (10 μg), Ox (1 μg) and V (30 μg), it was evident from our results that this antibiotic is not frequently used in animals by large-scale farmers. Contrarily to our observations, a study reported in South Africa, was 100% of the isolates from the two commercial farms were susceptible to Vancomycin [28]. This drug is no longer used in veterinary medicine in many countries [29] including South Africa, which may account for the results reported here.

Small proportions (67.8%) of the isolates from this study area were resistant to the beta-lactam penicillin G (10 μg), when compared to the isolates from the communal farms, in which 69% to 98% were resistant [28]. The antibiotic resistance obtained for S. aureus isolated from does not correlate with the extensive usage of Penicillin on dairy cattle farms in Hawassa town. The Ampicillin-resistance pattern for isolates from these all levels of CCP were similar to the Penicillin G (10 μg) resistance pattern, thus a smaller proportion of the isolates were resistant to this drug when compared to the isolates from the South Africa. Ampicillin (10 μg) is also commonly used on dairy cattle farms in the study area. Resistance to Penicillin G (10 μg) is thus used as a marker to assess the susceptibility of S. aureus isolates against other beta-lactam antibiotics [16,29]. This correlates with our findings but suggests that further studies need to be conducted to determine the exact inter-relation between these drugs in the expression of antibiotic-resistant phenotypes on dairy cattle farms in Ethiopia. The Methicillin-resistance pattern had a similar trend to that of several of the previously discussed antibiotics. This is because larger numbers of Oxacillin (10 μg)-resistant isolates were obtained from the milk in this study area.

What is of concern is the large number of Oxacillin (10 μg) (60.3%) that were isolated from the Study area. This is an indicator of MRSA. High levels of MRSA have been identified in patients in the United States and some European countries [30]. In these countries, 44.4%, 34.7%, 41.8% and 32.4% of isolates from patients in the United States, France, Italy and Spain, respectively, were resistant to Methicillin. These levels, however, are lower than those in our study. Methicillin is not used on dairy cattle farms in the South Ethiopia. However, Methicillin resistance could be explained by the inter-relationship between beta-lactam resistance and resistance to this drug. In MRSA, Methicillin resistance is conferred by the Penicillin binding protein (PBP) 2a that is encoded for by the mecA gene [31]. PBP2a does not readily bind the beta-lactam moiety. However, in MRSA that are exposed to beta-lactam antibiotics, this PBP2a would contribute to the resistance by providing transpeptidase activity to the native PBPs during cell wall synthesis. In our study, the resistant phenotype PG-AP-Ox was frequently identified usually with the addition of one or more antibiotics (Table 3). It is thus recommended that future studies should confirm the presence of the mecA gene in observed MRSA due to these β-lactamase antibiotics.

It has also been documented that MRSA isolates that are resistant to beta-lactam antibiotics may develop induced resistance to Vancomycin (30 μg) [31]. All the isolates from the study area were resistant to Oxacillin (1 μg) were also resistant to penicillin G (10 μg) and Ampicilin (10 μg). In addition, all PG, AP, and AC antibiotic resistance S. aureus were also resistance to Ox antibiotics. Moreover, 26.5% of the Oxacillin resistances S. aureus were also resistance to Vancomycin (30 μg). We therefore suggest that this may account for the identification of Vancomycin-resistant isolates in the study because Vancomycin is not used in either veterinary or human medicine in the area [29]. Moreover, beta-lactam-induced Vancomycin-resistant MRSA are not easily detected by conventional antibiotic susceptibility tests [32] and this may also account for the very low proportion of Vancomycin-resistant S. aureus observed.

The MAR phenotypes (Table 3) obtained in the study correlated with the percentage of antibiotic resistance. Although the development of resistance to a particular antibiotic depends on the level of exposure to the antimicrobials, [14] there are many other factors that are involved. We are therefore suggesting that molecular methods be used to characterize these isolates for the presence of antibiotic-resistance determinants, which may provide data to support our conclusions.

S. aureus is normally resident in humans; therefore the S. aureus present in the cow’s milk may have resulted from transmission from humans, which raises questions regarding the hygiene practices followed.

Conclusion and recommendation

S. aureus was isolated from all milk samples from Southern Ethiopia. A large proportion of the isolates obtained were resistant to three or more antibiotics. These were also resistant to Vancomycin (30 μg). This was particularly the case in the public setting and is cause for concern. The high level of MAR S. aureus and the implications thereof warrant further investigation. One of the aspects that need to be investigated is the cause of the observed resistance phenotypes. Furthermore, impacts and dynamics of genetic antibiotic determinants should also be investigated using molecular methods.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors’ contribution

DD developed proposal and secured financial support, data collection, laboratory working, analysis of the result, finalizing whole manuscript for publication. SG, read the manuscript and corrected the paper, DY, read the manuscript and laboratory work. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.