title: Molecular characterization of spa type t127, sequence type 1 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from pigs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to provide molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) spa type t127, sequence type (ST) 1 isolates, detected in a European baseline survey in holdings of breeding pigs, to determine phenotypic and genotypic drug resistance and to compare the results with those obtained from a collection of t127, ST1 MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) clinical isolates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four t127, ST1 MRSA from dust sampled in different breeding holdings in Italy, Spain and Cyprus were studied, along with 2 t127, ST1 MRSA from fattening pigs and 11 human t127, ST1 MRSA and MSSA. Genotyping was performed using multilocus sequence typing (MLST), spa typing and PFGE. SCCmec elements were characterized by multiplex-PCR and resistance and pathogenicity genes by PCR and microarray.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PFGE patterns separated a porcine cluster (PC) from a human cluster (HC), with 75% similarity. The PC carried SCCmec cassette type V, while all isolates of the HC carried SCCmec cassette type IVa. Kanamycin resistance mediated by aadD, fluoroquinolone and erm(A)-mediated macrolide resistance and the absence of the sakA gene were features of the PC only. All isolates of both clusters were positive for LukE-LukD and LuF-LukS-HlgA leukotoxin genes and one human MSSA harboured Panton-Valentine leucocidin genes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite differences in the host-specific genetic features, the possibility of PC transmission to humans cannot be excluded. MRSA spa type t127, ST1 from pigs possesses several virulence and resistance genes towards major classes of antimicrobials and may represent a serious therapeutic challenge in case of invasive infections in humans.
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Regioni Lazio e Toscana, Via Appia Nuova 1411, 00178 Rome, Italy.
authors: Alessia
authors: A
authors: Franco
authors: Henrik
authors: H
authors: Hasman
authors: Manuela
authors: M
authors: Iurescia
authors: Raniero
authors: R
authors: Lorenzetti
authors: Marc
authors: M
authors: Stegger
authors: Annalisa
authors: A
authors: Pantosti
authors: Fabiola
authors: F
authors: Feltrin
authors: Angela
authors: A
authors: Ianzano
authors: Maria Concepción
authors: MC
authors: Porrero
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Liapi
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Battisti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D003535:Cyprus; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D046228:Microarray Analysis; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D058889:Molecular Typing; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013030:Spain; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors