Emergence of ST953-IV as the Predominant Panton-Valentine Leucocidin (PVL)-negative Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant S. aureus (CA-MRSA) Clone in the Western Australian Kimberley Region
Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) in the Kimberley region of Western Australia (WA) is dominated by Panton-Valentine Leucocidin-negative lineages. Whole genome sequencing of 342 isolates from 2022 - 2023 identified an unexpected predominance of clonal complex 97 sequence type (ST)953-IV (WA-54) clone, reflecting a bovine-to-human adaptation and the need for integrated One Health surveillance with further genomics work on WA-54.