<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Methicillin-resistant <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> (MRSA) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen incriminated in causing multiple disease conditions in humans and livestock. Studies have shown relationships between livestock rearing and increased MRSA colonization risk among farm workers, and also suggest that livestock may serves as reservoirs of the bacteria and could also infect humans via close contact and consumption of contaminated animal products. The aim of this study was to investigate if practicing veterinarians with significant livestock contacts are at risk for MRSA colonization. Therefore, a non-randomized survey was conducted to establish the presence of MRSA among veterinarians practicing in Kebbi State Nigeria, using both cultural characteristics and molecular detection of the resistant gene (mecA). Forty-one (41) nasal swabs were aseptically collected. The detection rate of MRSA in the veterinarians was 14.6 %. The study revealed a high occurrence rate of MRSA among veterinarians in the study area. The relatively high prevalence recorded among veterinarians in this study could be attributed to the poor understanding of MRSA as a disease, its mode of transmission and its status in the country which have contributed immensely to the little/no awareness of MRSA among veterinarians and hence making it favourable for the bacteria (MRSA) to spread.</p></abstract>

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen incriminated in causing multiple disease conditions in humans and livestock. Studies have shown relationships between livestock rearing and increased MRSA colonization risk among farm workers, and also suggest that livestock may serves as reservoirs of the bacteria and could also infect humans via close contact and consumption of contaminated animal products. The aim of this study was to investigate if practicing veterinarians with significant livestock contacts are at risk for MRSA colonization. Therefore, a non-randomized survey was conducted to establish the presence of MRSA among veterinarians practicing in Kebbi State Nigeria, using both cultural characteristics and molecular detection of the resistant gene (mecA). Forty-one (41) nasal swabs were aseptically collected. The detection rate of MRSA in the veterinarians was 14.6 %. The study revealed a high occurrence rate of MRSA among veterinarians in the study area. The relatively high prevalence recorded among veterinarians in this study could be attributed to the poor understanding of MRSA as a disease, its mode of transmission and its status in the country which have contributed immensely to the little/no awareness of MRSA among veterinarians and hence making it favourable for the bacteria (MRSA) to spread.

Occurence and Antimicrobial Resistant Patterns of Methicillin Resistant <italic>Staphylococcus Aureus</italic> (MRSA) Among Practicing Veterinarians in Kebbi State, Nigeria

Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Usmanu Danfodiyo University

Folia Veterinaria

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Occurence and Antimicrobial Resistant Patterns of Methicillin Resistant  (MRSA) Among Practicing Veterinarians in Kebbi State, Nigeria

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging zoonotic pathogen incriminated in causing multiple disease conditions in humans and...

Occurence and Antimicrobial Resistant Patterns of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Among Practicing Veterinarians in Kebbi State, Nigeria

Published Online: Dec 21, 2020

Page range: 55 - 62

Received: Jul 09, 2020

Accepted: Oct 27, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2020-0038

Keywords
mecA, MRSA, Nigeria, practicing veterinarians,

© 2020 M. S. Gaddafi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Occurence and Antimicrobial Resistant Patterns of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) Among Practicing Veterinarians in Kebbi State, Nigeria

Published Online: Dec 21, 2020

Page range: 55 - 62

Received: Jul 09, 2020

Accepted: Oct 27, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fv-2020-0038

KeywordsmecA, MRSA, Nigeria, practicing veterinarians,

© 2020 M. S. Gaddafi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
mecA, MRSA, Nigeria, practicing veterinarians,