Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in horses and horse personnel, 2000-2002

TY - JOUR

T1 - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in horses and horse personnel, 2000-2002

AU - Weese, J. S.

AU - Archambault, M.

AU - Willey, B. M.

AU - Dick, H.

AU - Hearn, P.

AU - Kreiswirth, B. N.

AU - Said-Salim, B.

AU - McGeer, A.

AU - Likhoshvay, Y.

AU - Prescott, J. F.

AU - Low, D. E.

PY - 2005/3

Y1 - 2005/3

N2 - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection was identified in 2 horses treated at a veterinary hospital in 2000, prompting a study of colonization rates of horses and associated persons. Seventy-nine horses and 27 persons colonized or infected with MRSA were identified from October 2000 to November 2002; most isolations occurred in a 3-month period in 2002. Twenty-seven (34%) of the equine isolates were from the veterinary hospital, while 41 (51%) were from 1 thoroughbred farm in Ontario. Seventeen (63%) of 27 human isolates were from the veterinary hospital, and 8 (30%) were from the thoroughbred farm. Thirteen (16%) horses and 1 (4%) person were clinically infected. Ninety-six percent of equine and 93% of human isolates were subtypes of Canadian epidemic MRSA-5, spa type 7 and possessed SCCmecIV. All tested isolates from clinical infections were negative for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes. Equine MRSA infection may be an important emerging zoonotic and veterinary disease.

AB - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection was identified in 2 horses treated at a veterinary hospital in 2000, prompting a study of colonization rates of horses and associated persons. Seventy-nine horses and 27 persons colonized or infected with MRSA were identified from October 2000 to November 2002; most isolations occurred in a 3-month period in 2002. Twenty-seven (34%) of the equine isolates were from the veterinary hospital, while 41 (51%) were from 1 thoroughbred farm in Ontario. Seventeen (63%) of 27 human isolates were from the veterinary hospital, and 8 (30%) were from the thoroughbred farm. Thirteen (16%) horses and 1 (4%) person were clinically infected. Ninety-six percent of equine and 93% of human isolates were subtypes of Canadian epidemic MRSA-5, spa type 7 and possessed SCCmecIV. All tested isolates from clinical infections were negative for the Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes. Equine MRSA infection may be an important emerging zoonotic and veterinary disease.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/20044394733

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/20044394733#tab=citedBy

U2 - 10.3201/eid1103.040481

DO - 10.3201/eid1103.040481

M3 - Article

C2 - 15757559

SN - 1080-6040

VL - 11

SP - 430

EP - 435

JO - Emerging Infectious Diseases

JF - Emerging Infectious Diseases

IS - 3

ER -