Detecting mecA in faecal samples: a tool for assessing carriage of meticillin resistant staphylococci in pets and owners in the microbiological ‘fast age’?

Frosini, Sian-Marie; Gallow, Georgina; Gibson, Amanda; Menezes, Juliana; Pomba, Constanca; Loeffler, Anette

Abstract

Sampling animals for carriage of meticillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci (MRCoPS), considered zoonotic pathogens, can be challenging and time-consuming. Developing methods to identify mecA from non-invasive samples, e.g. faeces, would benefit AMR surveil-lance and management of MRS-carrier animals. This study aimed to distinguish MRS-carriers from non-carriers from faecal samples using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) for mecA. Paired faecal and nasal swab samples (n=86) were obtained from 13 dogs and 20 humans as part of a longitudinal study. Nasal MRCoPS-carriage was confirmed by identification of species (nuc) and meticillin-resistance (mecA) (PCR). Faecal DNA (n=69) was extracted and a qPCR method was optimised to provide a robust detection method. Presence of faecal mecA was com-pared between MRS-carriers and non-carriers (Kruskal-Wallis test). Nasal swabbing identified seven canine and four human MRCoPS-carriers. mecA was detected in 13/69 faecal samples, in-cluding four MRCoPS-carriers and nine non-carriers. For dogs, there was no significant associa-tion (P=1.000) between carrier status and mecA detection; for humans, mecA was more commonly detected in MRCoPS-carriers (P = 0.047). mecA was detected in faeces of MRCoPS-carriers and non-carriers by qPCR, however larger sample sizes are required to determine assay sensitivity. This rapid method enables passive surveillance of mecA in individuals and the environment.

Citation

Frosini, S.-M., Gallow, G., Gibson, A., Menezes, J., Pomba, C., & Loeffler, A. (in press). Detecting mecA in faecal samples: a tool for assessing carriage of meticillin resistant staphylococci in pets and owners in the microbiological ‘fast age’?. Microbiology Research, https://doi.org/10.3390/microbiolres14010005

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 10, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jan 13, 2023
• Deposit Date: Dec 15, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 21, 2023
• Journal: Microbiology Research
• Print ISSN: 2036-7481
• Publisher: PAGEpress
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/microbiolres14010005