Cohort study for the presence of livestock-associated MRSA in piglets: effect of sow status at farrowing and determination of the piglet colonization age.
A longitudinal study was performed to determine the age at which piglets become colonized with livestock-associated MRSA and the effect of the sow MRSA status on the colonization status of their offspring. On four farrow-to-finish farms (A-D), nasal swabs were collected during a 6-month period from 12 sows and their offspring per farm. Piglets and sows were sampled throughout the nursery period. Additionally, the piglets were sampled after weaning, before and after moving to the finishing unit and before slaughterhouse transport. The environment of one pen (wall, floor and air) was sampled every time the pigs were sampled. Two MRSA colonization profiles were observed. On farms A and B, the sows' colonization prevalence reached 17% and 33%, respectively. The proportion of positive piglets remained low in the nursing unit (farm A: 0-7%, farm B: 0-36%) and increased at the end of their stay in the growing unit (farm A: 91%, farm B: 69%). On farms C and D, the sows' and piglets' colonization percentages were high from the beginning of the sampling series and finally reached 100%. On all farms, a decrease in colonization was observed towards slaughter age. The colonization age differed between farms. A statistically significant effect of the sow status at farrowing on the piglets' status was observed. The present study indicates that the sow's colonization status is important and should be included in control measures. However, the observed differences in colonization percentages among the farms complicate implementation of control measures on the farm.
Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Technology and Food Science Unit, Food Safety Research Area, Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium; Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Marijke
M
Verhegghe
Catholic University College Southwest-Flanders (KATHO), Department HIVB, Wilgenstraat 32, 8800 Roeselare, Belgium; Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Department Biosystems, Division Gene Technology, Kasteelpark Arenberg 30/2456, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
Larissa J
LJ
Pletinckx
Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Technology and Food Science Unit, Agricultural Engineering Research Area, Burg. van Gansberghelaan 115/1, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Florence
F
Crombé
Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Technology and Food Science Unit, Agricultural Engineering Research Area, Burg. van Gansberghelaan 115/1, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Stephanie
S
Van Weyenberg
Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Freddy
F
Haesebrouck
Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium; Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Veterinary and Agrochemical Research Centre (VAR), Groeselenberg 99, 1180 Brussels, Belgium.
Patrick
P
Butaye
Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Technology and Food Science Unit, Food Safety Research Area, Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium; Ghent University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathology, Bacteriology and Avian Diseases, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.
Marc
M
Heyndrickx
Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Technology and Food Science Unit, Food Safety Research Area, Brusselsesteenweg 370, 9090 Melle, Belgium. Electronic address: Geertrui.Rasschaert@ilvo.vlaanderen.be.
Geertrui
G
Rasschaert
D000818:Animals; D000833:Animals, Suckling; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000662:veterinary; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D034421:Sus scrofa; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission*