Epidemiology of the Staphylococcus aureus CA-MRSA USA300 in Belgium
The methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Sequence type (ST) 8 Panton-Valentine toxin (PVL) positive USA300 clone has worldwide distribution. The North American (NA) variant [with the arginine catabolic element (ACME)] is predominant in the United States, while the Latin American (LV) variant is predominant in Northern South America. Nevertheless, both variants have failed in becoming epidemic in most European countries. In this study we have examined the introduction and expansion of USA300 in Belgium from 2006 to 2019. A selection of isolates including CC8 PVL-positive ACME-negative (n=16) and ACME-positive (n=102) and eight CC8 PVL-negative isolates from the Belgian National Reference Laboratory for S. aureus collection were subjected to WGS. This study showed that USA300-NA has partially successfully spread in Belgium, although it is currently decreasing. Related South-American clones have been detected for the first time in Belgium, including USA300-LV and the new emerging clone COL923.