Animal reservoirs of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: Implications for veterinary and public health

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a serious antimicrobial-resistant infection that presents serious problems for public and veterinary health. Despite being first identified as a pathogen linked to healthcare, MRSA has spread outside of clinical settings, with a variety of animal species now acting as significant reservoirs that aid in its persistence and spread. MRSA is maintained by livestock, companion animals, wildlife, and aquatic ecosystems through intricate networks of transmission that include direct contact, contaminated food items, and environmental pathways. Concerns about zoonotic transmission and the growing overlap between animal and human MRSA lineages have been raised by the advent and global spread of livestock-associated MRSA (LA-MRSA), especially clonal complexes like CC398 and CC9. The molecular traits, distribution, and epidemiology of animal-associated MRSA are outlined in this review, which also emphasizes the significance of various animal reservoirs and the routes of transmission that connect animals, people, and the environment. The consequences of MRSA for veterinary medicine, food safety, workplace health, and public health are also covered, with a focus on the increasing difficulties caused by antibiotic resistance and the scarcity of efficient treatment alternatives. According to available data, environmental pollution, intense animal production, poor biosecurity, and antibiotic abuse continue to be the main causes of MRSA emergence and spread. There are still significant knowledge gaps about the ecological significance of wildlife, environmental reservoirs, and regional epidemiological differences despite improvements in molecular epidemiology and genomic surveillance. Integrated surveillance systems, appropriate antimicrobial stewardship, improved infection prevention strategies, and interdisciplinary cooperation under the One Health concept are all necessary to address these issues. To mitigate MRSA transmission, maintain antibiotic efficacy, and lessen the worldwide burden of antimicrobial resistance, a coordinated approach including the veterinary, medical, food safety, and environmental sectors is crucial.