AUTHOR=Verstappen Koen M. , Willems Eveline , Fluit Ad C. , Duim Birgitta , Martens Marc , Wagenaar Jaap A. 

TITLE=Staphylococcus aureus Nasal Colonization Differs among Pig Lineages and Is Associated with the Presence of Other Staphylococcal Species

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=4

YEAR=2017

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2017.00097

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2017.00097

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> is a common colonizer in pigs, with methicillin-resistant <italic>S. aureus</italic> (MRSA) in particular being a potential health risk to humans. To reduce the exposure to humans, the colonization in pigs should be reduced. The aim of this study was to quantitatively compare the susceptibility of pig lineages for <italic>S. aureus</italic> colonization, and if the absence of <italic>S. aureus</italic> could be associated with the presence or absence of other staphylococcal species. Nasal samples (<italic>n</italic> = 129) were obtained from seven different pig lineages in the Netherlands, France, and Germany. <italic>S. aureus</italic> and other staphylococci were enumerated from these samples by real-time (RT)-PCR and culture. Associations were explored between the presence of <italic>S. aureus</italic> and other staphylococci. <italic>S. aureus</italic> was detected by RT-PCR on all farms and in samples from pigs of all lineages. Twenty-five percent of the pigs from lineage F (from two farms) were colonized with <italic>S. aureus</italic>, while in all other lineages it was more than 50% (<italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.01). Moreover, in <italic>S. aureus</italic>-positive samples from pigs of lineage F smaller amounts of <italic>S. aureus</italic> were found than in other lineages. <italic>Staphylococcus sciuri, Staphylococcus cohnii</italic>, and <italic>Staphylococcus saprophyticus</italic> were usually not found in combination with <italic>S. aureus</italic> in these samples. In conclusion: (i) pigs from different genetic lineages have different susceptibilities for colonization with <italic>S. aureus</italic>. These pigs might contain a genetic factor influencing nasal colonization. (ii) Colonization of <italic>S. aureus</italic> is also associated with the absence of <italic>S. sciuri, S. cohnii</italic>, or <italic>S. saprophyticus</italic>. (iii) The farm environment seems to influence the presence of <italic>S. aureus</italic> in pigs.</p>