Determining the prevalence of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) among commercial pig herds in South Africa

Abstract

In this study the prevalence of methicillin resistant Stahylococcus aureus (MRSA) among commercial piggeries in South Africa was determined. Twenty five commercial herds across South Africa participated. From each herd 18 finisher pigs' nasal contents were sampled at the abattoir between stunning and sticking. These samples were pooled into three pools with six samples per pool and selectively cultured to determine the presence of MRSA. A herd was classified as MRSA positive if one or more of the three pooled samples cultured positive for MRSA. In this study three out of the 25 herds tested positive for MRSA, equating to a 12% herd prevalence (95% CI: 2.5 ? 31%) among South African commercial piggeries. In other countries nasal carrier status of MRSA has been described in pigs. Concerns exist over the zoonotic risk positive carriers pose to workers. In the current study the prevalence of nasal MRSA carriers amongst large commercial pig herds in South Africa was extremely low compared to what has been reported in other parts in the world. This study suggests a low zoonotic MRSA risk to workers in South African commercial piggeries and abattoirs.