Frequency of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in fattening pigs in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Takeuti, Karine LudwigMalgarin, Carolina MacielAmaral, Amanda FigueiredoBarcellos, David Emilio Santos Neves de
Background: Staphylococcus (S.) aureus is an important nosocomial pathogen in humans and animals worldwide. The commonest class of antibiotics used to treat staphylococcal infections is the -lactams. Frequently, S. aureus strains show high resistance to methicillin and other -lactam antibiotics, called Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Although MRSA has emerged at slower rate in domestic animals, it has frequently been found in the nasal cavity of healthy piglets and its transmission between pigs and swine handlers has already been studied. The aim of this work was to assess the presence of MRSA in finishing pigs in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 350 nasal swabs were collected from 10 to 20 week old finishing pigs. Sampling was performed in five pig farms in northeast Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. Swabs were stored in tubes without transport medium and carried to the laboratory under refrigeration. The specimens were cultured in selective and differential Agar (Baird Parker) and then were incubated at 37ºC for 48 h. After isolation of typical colonies of S. aureus, they were inoculated in BHI (Brain Heart Infusion) broth at 37ºC for 24 h and tested for tube coagulase activity. Coagulase positive samples were selected for growth in Oxacillin Resistant Screening Agar (ORSA) supplemented with 2 mg/L [...](AU)
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