Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Cultured from the Healthy Horses’ Nostrils Sampled in Distant Regions of Brazil

<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>) is a major cause of opportunistic infections in humans and animals, leading to severe systemic diseases. The rise of MDR strains associated with animal carriage poses significant health challenges, underscoring the need to inves...

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Main Authors: Mauro M. S. Saraiva, Heitor Leocádio de Souza Rodrigues, Valdinete Pereira Benevides, Candice Maria Cardoso Gomes de Leon, Silvana C. L. Santos, Danilo T. Stipp, Patricia E. N. Givisiez, Rafael F. C. Vieira, Celso J. B. Oliveira
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Antibiotics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/7/693
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author Mauro M. S. Saraiva
Heitor Leocádio de Souza Rodrigues
Valdinete Pereira Benevides
Candice Maria Cardoso Gomes de Leon
Silvana C. L. Santos
Danilo T. Stipp
Patricia E. N. Givisiez
Rafael F. C. Vieira
Celso J. B. Oliveira
author_facet Mauro M. S. Saraiva
Heitor Leocádio de Souza Rodrigues
Valdinete Pereira Benevides
Candice Maria Cardoso Gomes de Leon
Silvana C. L. Santos
Danilo T. Stipp
Patricia E. N. Givisiez
Rafael F. C. Vieira
Celso J. B. Oliveira
author_sort Mauro M. S. Saraiva
collection DOAJ
description <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>) is a major cause of opportunistic infections in humans and animals, leading to severe systemic diseases. The rise of MDR strains associated with animal carriage poses significant health challenges, underscoring the need to investigate animal-derived <i>S. aureus</i>. Objectives: This study examined the genotypic relatedness and phenotypic profiles of antimicrobial resistance in <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i>, previously sampled from nostril swabs of healthy horses from two geographically distant Brazilian states (Northeast and South), separated by over 3700 km. The study also sought to confirm the presence of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and borderline oxacillin-resistant (BORSA) strains and to characterize the isolates through molecular typing using PCR. Methods: Among 123 screened staphylococci, 21 isolates were confirmed as <i>S. aureus</i> via biochemical tests and PCR targeting species-specific genes (<i>femA</i>, <i>nuc</i>, <i>coa</i>). Results: REP-PCR analysis generated genotypic profiles, revealing four antimicrobial resistance patterns, with MDR observed in ten isolates. Six isolates exhibited cefoxitin resistance, suggesting methicillin resistance, despite the absence of the <i>mecA</i> gene. REP-PCR demonstrated high discriminatory power, grouping the isolates into five major clusters. Conclusions: The genotyping indicated no clustering by geographical origin, highlighting significant genetic diversity among <i>S. aureus</i> strains colonizing horses’ nostrils in Brazil. These findings highlight the widespread and varied nature of <i>S. aureus</i> among horses, contributing to a deeper understanding of its epidemiology and resistance profiles in animals across diverse regions. Ultimately, this genetic diversity can pose a public health risk that the epidemiological surveillance services must investigate.
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spelling doaj-art-0e2a825f82cd47e0958dda1b8a8414b02025-08-20T03:55:48ZengMDPI AGAntibiotics2079-63822025-07-0114769310.3390/antibiotics14070693Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Cultured from the Healthy Horses’ Nostrils Sampled in Distant Regions of BrazilMauro M. S. Saraiva0Heitor Leocádio de Souza Rodrigues1Valdinete Pereira Benevides2Candice Maria Cardoso Gomes de Leon3Silvana C. L. Santos4Danilo T. Stipp5Patricia E. N. Givisiez6Rafael F. C. Vieira7Celso J. B. Oliveira8Department of Animal Science, College for Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba (CCA/UFPB), Areia 58397-000, PB, BrazilSchool of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (FCAV/Unesp), São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal 14885-900, SP, BrazilSchool of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (FCAV/Unesp), São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal 14885-900, SP, BrazilDepartment of Animal Science, College for Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba (CCA/UFPB), Areia 58397-000, PB, BrazilDepartment of Animal Science, College for Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba (CCA/UFPB), Areia 58397-000, PB, BrazilCollege for Natural Sciences, Federal University of São Carlos, São Carlos 13565-905, SP, BrazilDepartment of Animal Science, College for Agricultural Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba (CCA/UFPB), Areia 58397-000, PB, BrazilDepartment of Epidemiology and Community Health, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USASchool of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences (FCAV/Unesp), São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal 14885-900, SP, Brazil<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>) is a major cause of opportunistic infections in humans and animals, leading to severe systemic diseases. The rise of MDR strains associated with animal carriage poses significant health challenges, underscoring the need to investigate animal-derived <i>S. aureus</i>. Objectives: This study examined the genotypic relatedness and phenotypic profiles of antimicrobial resistance in <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i>, previously sampled from nostril swabs of healthy horses from two geographically distant Brazilian states (Northeast and South), separated by over 3700 km. The study also sought to confirm the presence of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) and borderline oxacillin-resistant (BORSA) strains and to characterize the isolates through molecular typing using PCR. Methods: Among 123 screened staphylococci, 21 isolates were confirmed as <i>S. aureus</i> via biochemical tests and PCR targeting species-specific genes (<i>femA</i>, <i>nuc</i>, <i>coa</i>). Results: REP-PCR analysis generated genotypic profiles, revealing four antimicrobial resistance patterns, with MDR observed in ten isolates. Six isolates exhibited cefoxitin resistance, suggesting methicillin resistance, despite the absence of the <i>mecA</i> gene. REP-PCR demonstrated high discriminatory power, grouping the isolates into five major clusters. Conclusions: The genotyping indicated no clustering by geographical origin, highlighting significant genetic diversity among <i>S. aureus</i> strains colonizing horses’ nostrils in Brazil. These findings highlight the widespread and varied nature of <i>S. aureus</i> among horses, contributing to a deeper understanding of its epidemiology and resistance profiles in animals across diverse regions. Ultimately, this genetic diversity can pose a public health risk that the epidemiological surveillance services must investigate.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/7/693bacterial carriage<i>blaZ</i>equineMRSAmultidrug resistance
spellingShingle Mauro M. S. Saraiva
Heitor Leocádio de Souza Rodrigues
Valdinete Pereira Benevides
Candice Maria Cardoso Gomes de Leon
Silvana C. L. Santos
Danilo T. Stipp
Patricia E. N. Givisiez
Rafael F. C. Vieira
Celso J. B. Oliveira
Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Cultured from the Healthy Horses’ Nostrils Sampled in Distant Regions of Brazil
Antibiotics
bacterial carriage
<i>blaZ</i>
equine
MRSA
multidrug resistance
title Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Cultured from the Healthy Horses’ Nostrils Sampled in Distant Regions of Brazil
title_full Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Cultured from the Healthy Horses’ Nostrils Sampled in Distant Regions of Brazil
title_fullStr Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Cultured from the Healthy Horses’ Nostrils Sampled in Distant Regions of Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Cultured from the Healthy Horses’ Nostrils Sampled in Distant Regions of Brazil
title_short Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Cultured from the Healthy Horses’ Nostrils Sampled in Distant Regions of Brazil
title_sort antimicrobial resistance patterns of i staphylococcus aureus i cultured from the healthy horses nostrils sampled in distant regions of brazil
topic bacterial carriage
<i>blaZ</i>
equine
MRSA
multidrug resistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6382/14/7/693
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