Detection and phylogeny of Staphylococcus aureus sequence type 398 in Taiwan

Abstract Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ST398 is a livestock associated-bacterium that is most prevalent in Europe. Human-adapted MRSA ST398 was recently reported from China, but there is no data available yet for Taiwan. Methods To identify S. aureus ST398 isolates, w...

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Main Authors: Yhu-Chering Huang, Chih-Jung Chen
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2020-01-01
Series:Journal of Biomedical Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-019-0608-8
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author Yhu-Chering Huang
Chih-Jung Chen
author_facet Yhu-Chering Huang
Chih-Jung Chen
author_sort Yhu-Chering Huang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ST398 is a livestock associated-bacterium that is most prevalent in Europe. Human-adapted MRSA ST398 was recently reported from China, but there is no data available yet for Taiwan. Methods To identify S. aureus ST398 isolates, we examined 6413 S. aureus isolates (5632 MRSA and 781 susceptible strains) that were collected in Taiwan between 1995 and 2017. If isolates could not be typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis upon Sma I digestion, we performed further characterization and complete genome sequencing. Results We identified 18 ST398 S. aureus isolates from 16 subjects (0.28%), including 6 sensitive and 12 resistant strains. Of these, 14 were colonizing isolates, 3 were clinical (infecting) isolates and one isolate was from a pork specimen. All 3 infecting isolates were MSSA strains identified in 2015 from two children with recurrent otitis media or sinusitis. The other 3 MSSA isolates were identified from workers handling pork (2) or pork meat (1) in 2015. The first 5 MRSA colonizing isolates were identified from residents in two nursing homes in 2012. Six MRSA isolates were identified from residents and foreign employees at a nursing home in 2016 and one MRSA from a foreign worker in 2017. Phylogenetic analysis of genome sequences indicated that all 12 local ST398 MRSA strains cluster together, human-adapted and phylogenetically related to a human MRSA strain identified in China in 2002. Two local MSSA isolates could be linked to isolates from livestock. The toxin profiles were similar for the MRSA and MSSA isolates. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that S. aureus ST398 was present in Taiwan in 2012 and potentially earlier. Although some isolates could be linked to livestock, most ST398 S. aureus isolates identified in Taiwan, particularly MRSA, represent human-adapted strains. Local transmission of human-adapted MRSA ST398 strains has occurred in nursing homes in Taiwan, possibly after import from China. Further surveillance is needed.
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spelling doaj.art-bd821344a06746bca528e00a3a5821752022-12-21T22:02:39ZengBMCJournal of Biomedical Science1423-01272020-01-012711810.1186/s12929-019-0608-8Detection and phylogeny of Staphylococcus aureus sequence type 398 in TaiwanYhu-Chering Huang0Chih-Jung Chen1Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Chang Gung Memorial HospitalDivision of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Chang Gung Memorial HospitalAbstract Background Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ST398 is a livestock associated-bacterium that is most prevalent in Europe. Human-adapted MRSA ST398 was recently reported from China, but there is no data available yet for Taiwan. Methods To identify S. aureus ST398 isolates, we examined 6413 S. aureus isolates (5632 MRSA and 781 susceptible strains) that were collected in Taiwan between 1995 and 2017. If isolates could not be typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis upon Sma I digestion, we performed further characterization and complete genome sequencing. Results We identified 18 ST398 S. aureus isolates from 16 subjects (0.28%), including 6 sensitive and 12 resistant strains. Of these, 14 were colonizing isolates, 3 were clinical (infecting) isolates and one isolate was from a pork specimen. All 3 infecting isolates were MSSA strains identified in 2015 from two children with recurrent otitis media or sinusitis. The other 3 MSSA isolates were identified from workers handling pork (2) or pork meat (1) in 2015. The first 5 MRSA colonizing isolates were identified from residents in two nursing homes in 2012. Six MRSA isolates were identified from residents and foreign employees at a nursing home in 2016 and one MRSA from a foreign worker in 2017. Phylogenetic analysis of genome sequences indicated that all 12 local ST398 MRSA strains cluster together, human-adapted and phylogenetically related to a human MRSA strain identified in China in 2002. Two local MSSA isolates could be linked to isolates from livestock. The toxin profiles were similar for the MRSA and MSSA isolates. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that S. aureus ST398 was present in Taiwan in 2012 and potentially earlier. Although some isolates could be linked to livestock, most ST398 S. aureus isolates identified in Taiwan, particularly MRSA, represent human-adapted strains. Local transmission of human-adapted MRSA ST398 strains has occurred in nursing homes in Taiwan, possibly after import from China. Further surveillance is needed.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-019-0608-8Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureusSequence type 398PulsotypeTaiwan
spellingShingle Yhu-Chering Huang
Chih-Jung Chen
Detection and phylogeny of Staphylococcus aureus sequence type 398 in Taiwan
Journal of Biomedical Science
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Sequence type 398
Pulsotype
Taiwan
title Detection and phylogeny of Staphylococcus aureus sequence type 398 in Taiwan
title_full Detection and phylogeny of Staphylococcus aureus sequence type 398 in Taiwan
title_fullStr Detection and phylogeny of Staphylococcus aureus sequence type 398 in Taiwan
title_full_unstemmed Detection and phylogeny of Staphylococcus aureus sequence type 398 in Taiwan
title_short Detection and phylogeny of Staphylococcus aureus sequence type 398 in Taiwan
title_sort detection and phylogeny of staphylococcus aureus sequence type 398 in taiwan
topic Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
Sequence type 398
Pulsotype
Taiwan
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12929-019-0608-8
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