Isolation of community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) sequence type (ST) 30 from house rats (Rattus tanezumi) in Hong Kong

• Published in: One health Vol. 19; p. 100861
• Main Authors: Uea-Anuwong, Theethawat, Stephan, Roger, Stevens, Marc J.A., Boss, Sara, Lugsomya, Kittitat, Kiu, Lam Hoi, Kamali, Maedeh, Gröhn, Yrjö Tapio, Nekouei, Omid, Magouras, Ioannis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-12-2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Antimicrobial resistance; CA-MRSA; Peridomestic rats; Public health; Rattus; ST 30; CA-MRSA; Antimicrobial resistance; ST 30; Peridomestic rats; Public health; Rattus
• ISSN: 2352-7714; 2352-7714
• DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100861

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is of major public health concern due to its resistance to multiple antibiotics. This resistance has been observed in various settings, including hospitals and communities, and has been detected in both animals and humans. Although peridomestic rat species (Rattus spp.) are well described reservoirs of several human pathogens and antimicrobial resistant bacteria, little is known about their role in MRSA epidemiology. In order to investigate whether Rattus spp. in Hong Kong are potential carriers of MRSA, 221 rats were caught from various ecological areas and nasopharyngeal samples were cultured on MRSA selective media. Genotypic characteristics of MRSA were confirmed by whole genome sequencing. Two clonal sequence type (ST) 30 MRSA isolates, harbouring mecA on staphylococcal chromosome cassette (SCC) mec type IVc, were cultured from two house rats (Rattus tanezumi) caught in two densely populated urban areas. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first detection of community-associated (CA)-MRSA strain ST30 SCCmec IVc in peridomestic rodents in Hong Kong and globally. Our finding indicates that house rats can be carriers of MRSA strains that are widely distributed in the community.
•Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections occur worldwide in animals and humans and are of major public health concern.•We demonstrate the presence of community-associated (CA)-MRSA ST30 in house rats from Hong Kong•The ST30 MRSA is endemic in the Hong Kong human population, strongly suggesting anthropogenic origin of the rat isolates.•The study findings indicate that house rats may play a role as reservoirs for CA-MRSA ST30, emphasizing the risk of potential transmissions between rats and humans.