title: Prevalence and molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in organic pig herds in The Netherlands.
abstract: The prevalence of the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) among conventional pig herds in the Netherlands is high (around 71%). Nevertheless, information about the prevalence of MRSA among organic pig herds is lacking. Here, we report a study on 24 of the 49 organic pig herds in the Netherlands. The prevalence of MRSA positive herds showed to be 21%. The genetic characteristics of the MRSA isolates were similar to MRSA CC398 described in conventional pigs except one exceptional HA-MRSA CC30 found in one herd, which was presumably caused by human to animal transmission. This resulted in a prevalence of MRSA CC398 in the organic herds of 16.7%.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Health, Louis Bolk Institute, Driebergen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: L P L
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: van de Vijver
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tulinski
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bondt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mevius
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verwer
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: MRSA CC398; antibiotic usage; organic pig herd; risk factor