title: Livestock-associated Staphylococcus aureus: origin, evolution and public health threat.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus is a major pathogen responsible for severe nosocomial and community-associated infections of humans and infections of economically important livestock species. In recent years, studies into livestock-associated S. aureus including methicillin-resistant (MRSA) strains have provided new information regarding their origin and host adaptation, and their capacity to cause zoonotic infections of humans. Furthermore, a potential role for human activities such as domestication and industrialisation in the emergence of S. aureus clones affecting livestock has been highlighted. Here, I summarise recent developments in this emerging field and suggest questions of importance for future research efforts.
authors.affiliation: The Roslin Institute and Edinburgh Infectious Diseases, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Edinburgh EH25 NRG, UK. ross.fitzgerald@ed.ac.uk
authors.forename: J Ross
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Fitzgerald
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D006801:Humans; D058751:Livestock; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D058889:Molecular Typing; D011634:Public Health; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000662:veterinary*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission*