Small mammals as sentinels of antimicrobial-resistant staphylococci

Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2018 Sep;63(5):665-668. doi: 10.1007/s12223-018-0594-3. Epub 2018 Mar 9.

Abstract

A total of 39 coagulase-negative staphylococci and seven Staphylococcus aureus strains were isolated from small mammal feces, i.e., the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) and the yellow-necked mouse (A. flavicollis) in two sampling areas, deciduous forest and karst plains. MALDI-TOF analysis revealed five species of coagulase-negative staphylococci: S. sciuri, S. hominis, S. warneri, S. haemolyticus, and S. xylosus. All strains were susceptible to tetracycline, linezolid, vancomycin, and teicoplanin. Three MRSA strains with the mecA gene were detected. The beta-lactamase gene blaZ was detected in ampicillin-resistant staphylococci and in the high-level resistant strains (oxacillin over 2 mg/L) mecA gene. The mecC gene was not detected by PCR. Erythromycin-resistant staphylococci harbored the ermC gene and/or the efflux gene msrA. There were no detectable dfr genes in trimethoprim-resistant staphylococci and the rifampicin-resistant strains were without mutation in the rpoB gene. In summary, wild small mammals may serve as sentinels of mecA-positive S. aureus with erythromycin resistance genes ermC and efflux msrA. Small mammals appear to be useful indicators of antibiotic resistance.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Wild
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Coagulase / analysis
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial / genetics*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / genetics*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Microbial Viability / drug effects
  • Rodentia / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology*
  • Staphylococcus / classification
  • Staphylococcus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus / genetics
  • Staphylococcus / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Coagulase