Prevalence and Molecular Epidemiology of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus in Livestock Farmers, Livestock, and Livestock Products in Southern Sri Lanka: A One Health Approach
Kurukulasooriya, M.R.P.; Tillekeratne, L.G.; Wijayaratne, W.M.D.G.B.; Bodinayake, C.K.; Dilshan, U.H.B.Y.; De Silva, A.D.; Nicholso, B.P.; Østbye, T.; Woods, C.W.
Citation:
Kurukulasooriya, M. R. P., Tillekeratne, L. G., Wijayaratne, W. M. D. G. B., Bodinayake, C. K., Dilshan, U. H. B. Y., De Silva, A. D., Nicholson, B.P., Ostby, T., Woods, C.W. & Nagahawatte, A. D. S. (2024). Prevalence and molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in livestock farmers, livestock, and livestock products in southern Sri Lanka: A one health approach. Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 126, 105693.
Date:
2024-11-29
Abstract:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization can lead to subsequent severe infections. Unlike
community and hospital-associated types, Livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA) transmits to humans through
direct contact with livestock and contaminated livestock products. This study aimed to investigate MRSA
prevalence and molecular epidemiology in livestock farmers, livestock, and livestock products, including LA-
MRSA presence and MRSA abundance in human and animal nasal microbiome, in southern Sri Lanka using a
One Health approach.
Nasal swabs from farmers and livestock on 50 farms (Nov 2020 - Dec 2021) and livestock products were
collected. MRSA was isolated and confirmed using standard microbiological techniques. Staphylococcal chro-
mosomal cassette mec typing, spa typing, and multilocus sequence typing were performed. Identified clones were
compared with hospital isolates. Metagenomics analysis was performed on selected samples.
MRSA prevalence was 24.0 % (12/50) in farms, 7.9 % (12/152) in farmers, 2.1 % (5/240) in livestock, and
1.9 % (3/157) in products. Of 372 S. aureus collected from clinical cultures, 59.4 % were MRSA. MRSA clones
were identified in farm personnel (CC5/ST5/t002, CC1/ST1/t127, and ST45/CC45/t026), livestock (CC5/ST5/
t002), and clinical cultures (CC5/ST5/t002 and CC5/ST6/t304), with ST45/CC45/t026 and CC5/ST6/t304 re-
ported for the first time in Sri Lanka. LA-MRSA clones (ST389/ST9) were not detected. Animals had more diverse
nasal microbiomes and lower MRSA abundance (<1.4 %) compared to humans (>82.3 %).
MRSA colonization prevalence in southern Sri Lanka was relatively low. Two new clones and no LA-MRSA
clones were identified. This study highlights the importance of continuing MRSA surveillance under the One
Health framework to identify MRSA transmission between humans, animals, and the environment.
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