title: Whole genome sequencing identifies zoonotic transmission of MRSA isolates with the novel mecA homologue mecC.
abstract: Several methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) lineages that carry a novel mecA homologue (mecC) have recently been described in livestock and humans. In Denmark, two independent human cases of mecC-MRSA infection have been linked to a livestock reservoir. We investigated the molecular epidemiology of the associated MRSA isolates using whole genome sequencing (WGS). Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were defined and compared to a reference genome to place the isolates into a phylogenetic context. Phylogenetic analysis revealed two distinct farm-specific clusters comprising isolates from the human case and their own livestock, whereas human and animal isolates from the same farm only differed by a small number of SNPs, which supports the likelihood of zoonotic transmission. Further analyses identified a number of genes and mutations that may be associated with host interaction and virulence. This study demonstrates that mecC-MRSA ST130 isolates are capable of transmission between animals and humans, and underscores the potential of WGS in epidemiological investigations and source tracking of bacterial infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: Ewan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Harrison
authors.forename: Gavin K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Paterson
authors.forename: Matthew T G
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Holden
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stegger
authors.forename: Anders Rhod
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Larsen
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Robert L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Skov
authors.forename: Judit Marta
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bak Zeuthen
authors.forename: Ole
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Heltberg
authors.forename: Simon R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: Ruth N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Zadoks
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parkhill
authors.forename: Sharon J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Peacock
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Holmes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004197:Disease Reservoirs / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D016680:Genome, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D058751:Livestock / Q000382:microbiology*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008875:Middle Aged; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D010802:Phylogeny; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012756:Sheep / Q000382:microbiology; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary*; D015047:Zoonoses / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; C487789:mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus