Pathogenic Potential and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Staphylococcus aureus in Milk and Beef from the Northwest and Southwest Regions of Cameroon

Novel natural and economic approach for controlling methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus using apple cider vinegar

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) constitutes a significant health concern because it promotes infectious mastitis in dairy animals and poses a hazard risk to humans. Controlling MRSA infections is a growing challenge on a global scale because of the bacteria's toxicity and its capacity to develop multidrug resistance (MDR). Combating against MDR bacteria and the spread of infectious diseases needs natural antibacterial alternatives to minimize the economic losses of mastitis. The average treatment cost in Egypt was highlighted. The antibacterial effect of apple cider vinegar (ACV) against MDR-MRSA isolates was evaluated, also the study aimed at profiling antimicrobial resistance genes in MRSA isolates. The incidence of mastitis in cows was more than in buffaloes, and the average total treatment cost was estimated at 82 million EGP from 2016 to 2021 (around 14 million EGP annually). Of the 22 S. aureus isolates (20 %), of which (59.1 % were from cows and 40.9 % from buffaloes), 19 (86.4 %) were confirmed as MRSA. All MRSA isolates exhibited resistance to clindamycin (94.7 %), then both ampicillin and doxycycline (84.2 %), and ampicillin and sulbactam, erythromycin and Fosfomycin (each, 78.9 %). Vancomycin, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin can be used to treat MRSA. The prevalence of MDR was significantly high, with 94.7 % of the cases having multiple antimicrobial resistance (MAR) indices ranging from 0.25 to 0.75. All MRSA isolates tested positive for mecA, 89.5 % for the blaZ gene, 84.2 % for tetM, and 73.4 % for ermB. In vitro, the antibacterial properties of ACV were demonstrated to be superior by our results which demonstrate a zone of inhibition with diameters ranging from 20 to 40 mm detected by Agar well diffusion technique and MIC's (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) ranging from 2 to 4 μg/ml. Some isolates possess MBC (Minimal Bactericidal Concentration) values at the same MIC. This research proposes the potential of ACV to act as a promising antibacterial alternative against MRSA. This can help minimize the health problem of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and improve the efficiency of dairy farms. Further studies are recommended to determine the proper dosage for field administration.

Isolation and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from bovine mastitis in North West Cameroon: public health implications

OBJECTIVES

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a zoonotic pathogen that poses a serious threat to veterinary and public health worldwide. We investigated mastitis milk samples for contamination with MRSA and also characterized the MRSA isolates by investigating antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors.

RESULT

We confirmed MRSA in 69 of 201 (34.3%) S. aureus isolates recovered from a total of 300 samples. Of the 69 MRSA, 19 (27.5%) were from subclinical cases, while 50 (72.5%) were from clinical cases. The MRSA showed high resistance to penicillin (100%), ampicillin (100%), trimethoprim (69.6%), and tetracycline (69.6%) while susceptibility was observed for gentamicin (100%), vancomycin (95.7%), and ciprofloxacin (91.3%). Most isolates (65.2%, 45/69) were multidrug resistant. Thirteen antibiotypes (A1-A13) were identified and the most prevalent was A8 (TMPRERTETRAMPRPR)). All MRSA produced haemolysins, caseinase, and coagulase. Lipase, gelatinase and lecithinase were found in 97.1%, 94.2% and 91.3% of isolates respectively. Genotyping revealed coa (100%) and spa (68.1%) genes. We recommend educating dairy farmers on the public health implications of consuming unpasteurized raw milk and the implementation of proper hygiene practices in dairy farms.

Phosphoproteomics analysis reveals the anti-bacterial and anti-virulence mechanism of eugenol against Staphylococcus aureus and its application in meat products

The increasing risk of food poisoning caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) contamination has aroused great concern about food safety. Eugenol is highly favored due to its broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and non-drug resistance property. The study aimed to reveal the anti-bacterial and anti-virulence mechanisms of eugenol against S. aureus using phosphoproteomics. The results indicated that eugenol could inhibit the phosphorylation levels of enzyme I in the bacterial phosphotransferase system (PTS). Meanwhile, it could also inhibit the phosphorylation levels of key enzymes in bacterial carbon metabolism (such as glucose-6-phosphate isomerase of glycolysis and succinyl-CoA synthetase of tricarboxylic acid cycle), thereby decreasing the content of ATP and accelerating bacterial death. In addition, eugenol could inhibit the phosphorylation of AgrA in the quorum sensing system, thereby inhibiting the expression of agr operons (agrA and agrC) and downstream virulence genes (RNAIII, hla and seb). Finally, the application on beef indicated that eugenol could effectively decrease the content of enterotoxins and improve its storage quality. These findings provide a new way for eugenol to prevent S. aureus contamination and food poisoning in meat products.

Tackling strong biofilm and multi-virulent vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus via natural alkaloid-based porous nanoparticles: perspective towards near future eradication

Introduction

As a growing direction, nano-based therapy has become a successful paradigm used to address the phytogenic delivery-related problems in overcoming multivirulent vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) infection.

Methods

Hence, our aim was to develop and assess a novel nanocarrier system (mesoporous silica nanoparticles, MPS-NPs) for free berberine (Free-BR) as an antimicrobial alkaloid against strong biofilm-producing and multi-virulent VRSA strains using in vitro and in vivo mouse model.

Results and discussion

Our outcomes demonstrated vancomycin resistance in 13.7% of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) strains categorized as VRSA. Notably, strong biofilm formation was observed in 69.2% of VRSA strains that were all positive for icaA gene. All strong biofilm-producing VRSA strains harbored a minimum of two virulence genes comprising clfA and icaA with 44.4% of them possessing all five virulence genes (icaA, tst, clfA, hla, and pvl), and 88.9% being multi-virulent. The study findings affirmed excellent in vitro antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties of BR-loaded MPS-NPs. Real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) assay displayed the downregulating role of BR-loaded MPS-NPs on strong biofilm-producing and multi-virulent VRSA strains virulence and agr genes in both in vitro and in vivo mice models. Additionally, BR-loaded MPS-NPs supplementation has a promising role in attenuating the upregulated expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines' genes in VRSA-infected mice with attenuation in pro-apoptotic genes expression resulting in reduced VRSA-induced apoptosis. In essence, the current study recommends the future scope of using BR-loaded MPS-NPs as auspicious alternatives for antimicrobials with tremendous antimicrobial, antibiofilm, anti-quorum sensing (QS), and anti-virulence effectiveness against problematic strong biofilm-producing and multi-virulent VRSA-associated infections.

Dynamics of antimicrobial resistance and virulence of staphylococcal species isolated from foods traded in the Cape Coast metropolitan and Elmina municipality of Ghana

The impact of staphylococci on food poisoning and infections could be higher than previously reported. In this study, we characterised the occurrence and coexistence of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes of staphylococci isolates in foods. Staphylococci were isolated from 236 samples of selected street-vended foods and identified. The pattern of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in the staphylococci were assessed using disc diffusion, PCR and analysis of next-generation sequencing data. The food samples (70.76 %) showed a high prevalence of staphylococci and differed among the food categories. Forty-five Staphylococcus species were identified and comprised coagulase-negative and positive species. Staphylococcus sciuri (now Mammaliicoccus sciuri), S. aureus, S. kloosii, S. xylosus, S. saprophyticus, S. haemolyticus and S. succinus were the most abundant species. The staphylococcal isolates exhibited resistance to tetracycline, levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, gentamicin and amikacin and susceptibility to nitrofurantoin. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were also reported for cefoperazone, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, nalidixic acid and piperacillin-tazobactam. The antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes commonly detected consisted of tet, arl, macB, van, gyr, nor, optrA, bcrA, blaZ, taeA and S. aureus lmrS. The isolates frequently exhibited multiple resistance (30.42 %) of up to eight antimicrobial drug classes. The isolates predominantly harboured genes that express efflux pump proteins (50.53 %) for antibiotic resistance compared with inactivation (10.05 %), target alteration (26.72 %), protection (7.67 %) and replacement (3.17 %). The virulence determinants comprised genes of pyrogenic toxin superantigens (eta, etb, tst), adhesions (clf, fnbA, fnbB, cna, map, ebp, spA, vWbp, coa) and genes that express exoproteins (nuclease, metalloprotease, γ-hemolysin, hyaluronate lyase). There was a statistically significant difference in the prevalence of staphylococci isolates and their antimicrobial resistance and virulence profile as revealed by the phenotypic, PCR and next-generation sequencing techniques. The findings suggest a higher health risk for consumers. We recommend a critical need for awareness and antimicrobial susceptibility and anti-virulence strategies to ensure food safety and counteract the spread of this clinically relevant genus.

Future scope of plant-derived bioactive compounds in the management of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: In vitro antimicrobial and antivirulence prospects to combat MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a foremost human and animal pathogen with public health and veterinary significance causing hospital and community infections and contagious bovine mastitis. Due to its ability to develop multidrug resistance (MDR) and its pathogenicity, MRSA infection control is becoming a global concern. Natural antibacterial options are needed to combat MDR development and infectious dissemination. This study investigated the antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes profiling of MRSA isolates and explored the antivirulence efficacy of trans-cinnamaldehyde, thymol, and carvacrol essential oils (EOs) against multivirulent and MDR-MRSA isolates. Thirty six S. aureus isolates (25%) were retrieved, of which 34 (94.4%) were MRSA. A high prevalence of MDR (66.7%) was monitored and all 53 molecularly verified isolates possessed icaA and cna virulence genes. Moreover, 94.1% of these isolates were multivirulent with 23.5% of them carrying icaA, cna, eta, tst, and sea virulence genes. Our data proved superior in vitro antimicrobial and antivirulence activities of trans-cinnamaldehyde, thymol, and carvacrol. They inhibited the growth of multi-virulent and MDR-MRSA isolates and downregulated the transcription of examined virulence genes. Our study suggests using EOs as prospective antimicrobials with excellent antivirulence activities against MRSA isolates. We provided data regarding the eventual role of phytogenics in prevention and control of MRSA infection.

Antimicrobial resistance and molecular typing of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from raw milk in Hunan Province

Background

Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most important foodborne pathogens in the world and the main cause of dairy cow mastitis. Few studies have investigated the epidemic pedigree of S. aureus of bovine origin in Hunan, China. Therefore, we aimed to analyze the capsular polysaccharides (CP), molecular typing, and antibiotic resistance characteristics of S. aureus isolated from raw milk of dairy farms in Hunan Province.

Methods

Between 2018 and 2022, 681 raw milk samples were collected from dairy cows from farms in Changsha, Changde, Shaoyang, Yongzhou, and Chenzhou in Hunan Province. S. aureus was isolated from these samples, and the isolates were subjected to molecular typing, CP typing, and determination of antibiotic resistance through broth dilution and polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results

From 681 raw milk samples, 76 strains of S. aureus were isolated. The pathogenicity of 76 isolates was determined preliminarily by detecting cp5 and cp8 CP genes. Eighteen types of antimicrobial resistance phenotypes of 76 S. aureus strains were detected by the broth dilution method, and 11 kinds of related resistance genes were amplified by PCR. The S. aureus isolates had CP5 (42.10%) and CP8 (57.89%). S. aureus had a multiple antimicrobial resistance rate of 26.75%. The isolated strains had the highest resistance rate to penicillin (82.89%) and showed varying degrees of resistance to other drugs, but no isolate showed resistance to doxycycline. The 76 isolates all carried two or more antibiotic resistance genes, with a maximum of eight antibiotics resistance genes. FemB was detected in all isolates, but none of isolates carried vanA, ermA, or glrA. The 76 isolates were divided into 22 sequence types (ST) and 20 spa types by MLST and spa typing, and the number of t796-ST7 (n = 15) isolates was the highest, which may be the major epidemic strain of multidrug-resistant S. aureus.

Conclusion

The present findings indicate the need to increase production of the CP8 S. aureus vaccine in Hunan Province and strengthen resistance monitoring of t796-ST7 isolates with the prevalent molecular type of multi-drug resistant strains. The use of β-lactam, macrolides, and lincosamides should be reduced; doxycycline, sulfonamides, and glycopeptides could be appropriately added to veterinary antibiotics to treat infectious diseases in dairy cows.

Antibiotic resistomes and their chemical residues in aquatic environments in Africa

The aquatic environment is a hotspot for the transfer of antibiotic resistance to humans and animals. Several reviews have put together research efforts on the presence and distribution of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB), antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and antibiotic chemical residue (ACRs) in food, hospital wastewater, and even in other aquatic environments. However, these reports are largely focused on data from developed countries, while data from developing countries and especially those in Africa, are only marginally discussed. This review is the first effort that distills information on the presence and distribution of ARGs and ACRs in the African aquatic environments (2012-2021). This review provides critical information on efforts put into the study of ARB, ARGs, and ACRs in aquatic environments in Africa through the lens of the different sub-regions in the continent. The picture provided is compared with those from some other continents in the world. It turns out that the large economies in Africa (South Africa, Nigeria, Tunisia, Kenya) all have a few reports of ARB and ARGs in their aquatic environment while smaller economies in the continent could barely provide reports of these in their aquatic environment (in most cases no report was found) even though they have some reports on resistomes from clinical studies. Interestingly, the frequency of these reports of ARB and ARGs in aquatic environments in Africa suggests that the continent is ahead of the South American continent but behind Europe and Asia in relation to providing information on these contaminants. Common ARGs found in African aquatic environment encode resistance to sulfonamide, tetracycline, β-lactam, and macrolide classes of antibiotics. The efforts and studies from African scientists in eliminating ARB and ARGs from the aquatic environment in Africa are also highlighted. Overall, this document is a ready source of credible information for scientists, policy makers, governments, and regional bodies on ARB, ARGs, and ACRs in aquatic environments in Africa. Hopefully, the information provided in this review will inspire some necessary responses from all stakeholders in the water quality sector in Africa to put in more effort into providing more scientific evidence of the presence of ARB, ARGs, and ACRs in their aquatic environment and seek more efficient ways to handle them to curtail the spread of antibiotic resistance among the population in the continent. This will in turn, put the continent on the right path to meeting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals #3 and #6, which at the moment, appears to be largely missed by most countries in the continent.

Antimicrobial Resistance, Enterotoxin and mec Gene Profiles of Staphylococcus aureus Associated with Beef-Based Protein Sources from KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

Annually, approximately 23,000 cases of food poisoning by Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxins are reported worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and characterize S. aureus on beef and beef products in South Africa. Organ meats (n = 169), raw processed meat (n = 110), raw intact (n = 53), and ready-to-eat meats (n = 68) were obtained from 25 retail outlets. S. aureus was isolated and enumerated according to the ISO 6888-1 method. Identification of the strains was performed by MALDI-TOF MS. The antimicrobial resistance was determined using the disc diffusion test. The presence of methicillin-resistance genes and the staphylococcal enterotoxin genes was determined by PCR. Prevalence was low (13/400; CI 1.7–5) and all but one positive sample were from organ meats. Eight isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Two isolates carried the mecC gene. All the isolates tested positive for seg, seh, sei, and sep, whilst 53.8% were positive for sea. None of the isolates was positive for ser, sej, seb, sec, or sed. The prevalence of S. aureus was low, with organ meats being the most contaminated. The presence of mecC-positive MRSA and of enterotoxins warrants further investigation and risk assessment.

Prevalence, Enterotoxigenic Potential and Antimicrobial Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Isolated from Algerian Ready to Eat Foods

Staphylococcus aureus causes a foodborne intoxication due to the production of enterotoxins and shows antimicrobial resistance, as in the case of methicillin-resistant strains (MRSA). Herein, we analyzed 207 ready-to-eat foods collected in Algeria, reporting a S. aureus prevalence of 23.2% (48/207) and respective loads of coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS) ranging from 1.00 ± 0.5 to 5.11 ± 0.24 Log CFU/g. The 48 S. aureus isolates were widely characterized by staphylococcal enterotoxin gene (SEg)-typing and 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region (ISR)-PCR, as well as by detecting tst and mecA genes, genetic determinants of toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 and methicillin resistance, respectively. We found that the S. aureus isolates belonged to seven different SEg-types harboring the following combinations of genes: (1) selW, selX; (2) egc (seG, seI, seM, seN, seO), selW, selX; (3) seA, seH, seK, seQ, selW, selX; (4) seB, selW, selX; (5) seD, selJ, seR, selW, selX; (6) seH, selW, selX, selY; and (7) seA, egc, selW, selX, while among these, 2.1% and 4.2% were tst- and mecA- (staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec-type IV) positive, respectively. Selected strains belonging to the 12 detected ISR-types were resistant towards antimicrobials including benzylpenicillin, ofloxacin, erythromycin, lincomycin, tetracyclin, kanamycin, oxacillin, and cefoxitin; 8.3% (1/12) were confirmed as MRSA and 16.7% (2/12) were multidrug resistant. The present study shows the heterogeneity of the S. aureus population in Algerian ready-to-eat foods as for their toxigenic potential and antimicrobial resistance, shedding the light on the quality and safety related to the consume of ready-to-eat foods in Algeria.