Characterization of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec Elements from Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Infections in Australian Animals.

We examined the oxacillin resistance phenotype and genomic structure of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCC mec ) elements from 77 veterinary methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) isolates. Isolates were characterized by oxacillin broth microdilution, whole-genome sequencing, and bioformatics analysis. Five previously described SCC mec elements, and a sixth novel element, were identified: SCC mec III (also known as II-III), ΨSCC mec ₅₇₃₉₅ , and SCC mec _NA45 (a SCC mec VII variant), all previously described in MRSP, and SCC mec IVg and SCC mec V _T , previously described in both methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and MRSP. The sixth element was novel and found among nine geographically clustered isolates. This novel pseudostaphylococcal cassette chromosome (ΨSCC mec _KW21 ) contained a class A mec gene complex but lacked ccr genes. It also harbored heavy metal (cadmium) resistance determinants. The median oxacillin MIC values among ΨSCC mec _KW21 , SCC mec III, and SCC mec V _T isolates were significantly higher than those determined for the SCC mec _NA45 VII variant isolates and ΨSCC mec ₅₇₃₉₅ and SCC mec IVg isolates. ΨSCC mec _KW21 was found exclusively in sequence type 497 (ST497), an MRSP clone that is locally successful in Victoria, Australia. Future studies are necessary to determine if this clone has disseminated further afield and if ΨSCC mec _KW21 has moved into other MRSP lineages or staphylococcal species. IMPORTANCE Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a significant veterinary pathogen and occasional cause of infections in humans. β-Lactams are an important group of antimicrobials used to treat staphylococcal infections in humans and animals. However, when staphylococci become methicillin resistant via the acquisition of a mobile genetic element called staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCC mec ), they become resistant to all β-lactams. This study detected a novel SCC mec element among a cluster of methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius isolates from animals in Australia. It also detected SCC mec elements in S. pseudintermedius that had high similarity to those identified in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , demonstrating how human and animal pathogens can share the same resistance determinants.
(Copyright © 2018 Worthing et al.)