Yui Taniguchi1, Shota Koide1, Yoshihiko Maeyama2, Kiyoko Tamai3, Wataru Hayashi1, Hayato Tanaka1, Masaki Iimura1, Masahiro Suzuki4, Yukiko Nagano5, Yoshichika Arakawa5, Noriyuki Nagano6. 1. Department of Health and Medical Sciences, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan. 2. Department of Health and Medical Sciences, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan; Miroku Medical Laboratory Inc., 659-2 Innai, Saku, Nagano 384-2201, Japan. 3. Miroku Medical Laboratory Inc., 659-2 Innai, Saku, Nagano 384-2201, Japan. 4. Department of Microbiology, Fujita Health University, 1-98 Dengakugakubo, Kutsukake-cho, Toyoake, Aichi 470-1192, Japan. 5. Department of Bacteriology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, Aichi 466-8550, Japan. 6. Department of Health and Medical Sciences, Shinshu University Graduate School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto, Nagano 390-8621, Japan. Electronic address: naganon@shinshu-u.ac.jp.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To characterise the genotypic profiles of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates from companion animals and to investigate their association with those from humans in Japan. METHODS: Non-duplicated MRSA clinical isolates recovered between July 2016 and January 2018 were analysed. The MRSA isolates were typed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based open reading frame (ORF) typing (POT) scores, SCCmec types, multilocus sequence typing, and virulence gene profiles. Phylogenetic comparison of those isolates with previously described human isolates was performed. RESULTS: Among 56 MRSA isolates (33 cats, 20 dogs and three rabbits), 26 isolates with a POT1 score of 93, SCCmec type II mostly belonged to CC5, including ST5. Twenty-six isolates with a POT1 score of 106, SCCmec type IV showed diversity of STs: 15 isolates belonged to CC8, mainly including ST8, and 11 isolates belonged to CC1, including ST1 and newly identified STs 4768, 4775, and 4779. Two cat isolates were ST8-SCCmec type IV possessing pvl/ACME-arcA, presumed to be the hypervirulent community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) clone USA300. Notably, all three rabbit isolates belonged to ST4768. The POT1 score 106 CA-MRSA isolates from animals and humans were divided into two large clusters of CC1 and CC8, where host species-specific sub-clusters were not identified within each cluster. A large cluster of POT1 score 93 healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) isolates from animals and humans consisted of sub-clusters formed exclusively by the vast majority of human isolates and those formed by animal and human isolates. CONCLUSION: Companion animals could be potential reservoirs and vehicles for the transmission of CA-MRSA to humans, and could transmit companion animal-adaptive HA-MRSA lineages to humans as their second reservoirs.
OBJECTIVES: To characterise the genotypic profiles of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) clinical isolates from companion animals and to investigate their association with those from humans in Japan. METHODS: Non-duplicated MRSA clinical isolates recovered between July 2016 and January 2018 were analysed. The MRSA isolates were typed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based open reading frame (ORF) typing (POT) scores, SCCmec types, multilocus sequence typing, and virulence gene profiles. Phylogenetic comparison of those isolates with previously described human isolates was performed. RESULTS: Among 56 MRSA isolates (33 cats, 20 dogs and three rabbits), 26 isolates with a POT1 score of 93, SCCmec type II mostly belonged to CC5, including ST5. Twenty-six isolates with a POT1 score of 106, SCCmec type IV showed diversity of STs: 15 isolates belonged to CC8, mainly including ST8, and 11 isolates belonged to CC1, including ST1 and newly identified STs 4768, 4775, and 4779. Two cat isolates were ST8-SCCmec type IV possessing pvl/ACME-arcA, presumed to be the hypervirulent community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) clone USA300. Notably, all three rabbit isolates belonged to ST4768. The POT1 score 106 CA-MRSA isolates from animals and humans were divided into two large clusters of CC1 and CC8, where host species-specific sub-clusters were not identified within each cluster. A large cluster of POT1 score 93 healthcare-associated MRSA (HA-MRSA) isolates from animals and humans consisted of sub-clusters formed exclusively by the vast majority of human isolates and those formed by animal and human isolates. CONCLUSION: Companion animals could be potential reservoirs and vehicles for the transmission of CA-MRSA to humans, and could transmit companion animal-adaptive HA-MRSA lineages to humans as their second reservoirs.