| Summary: | Although, historically, Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) was restricted to humans, since 2005 these strains emerged in livestock and wildlife. Therefore, a One Health approach was applied to analyze the diversity and characteristics of <i>S. aureus</i> strains isolated from the invasive species of mongoose (<i>Urva auropunctata</i>) in St. Kitts. Fecal samples collected from these animals (<i>n</i> = 81) were cultured on selective agar. The isolated <i>S. aureus</i> strains were identified using MALDI-TOF and further characterized by whole genome sequence analysis. The fecal microbiome study identified the presence of <i>S. aureus</i> in 5 animals. Both MSSA (<i>n</i> = 3) and MRSA (<i>n</i> = 2) strains were identified. The two MRSA isolated were nearly identical ST5 SCC<i>mec</i> IVa (2B) strains. The two MSSA isolated were a new ST7434, pertaining to clonal complex 30, and the other belonged to ST5, but unrelated to the MRSA ST5. The SCC<i>mec</i> IVa (2B) is, however, the main SCC<i>mec</i> in human MRSA of different STs identified in St Kitts, indicating potential horizontal transmission events. In conclusion, a new type of MSSA, ST7434, was found and MRSA ST5 t002 SCC<i>mec</i> IVa (2B) found its way into wildlife on a small Caribbean Island. Further One Health studies are necessary to determine the role of MRSA in wildlife.
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