Asian Science
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Abstract: Staphylococcosis caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA) infection in rabbitry is neglected as a cause of rabbit production
impairment and zoonoses. This study aimed to monitor a rabbit flock problem
associated with MRSA infection by following a rapid and simple sampling and
diagnostic scheme. Resistance to antibiotics and zoonotic risk posed to human
contact and food contamination were assessed. The identification of S. aureus
was carried out by traditional bacteriological methods that confirmed with
PCR. Results showed that a total of 80 (39.21%) out of 204 animals from apparently
healthy rabbit were MRSA positive. The isolation rate was highest from nose/eye
(26.47%), followed by skin affections (8.82%) and vaginal/perineum (3.92%) sampling
sites. In post-mortem examination, MRSA was positive in 55 (26.96%) out of 204
animals. Isolation rate from lung was (22.05%) that was higher than from uterus
(7.81%). Resistance to antibiotics was shown in 59.9% of the isolates. All tested
isolates were methicillin and oxacillin resistant strains. Vancomycin and oxytetracycline
also were resistant in 91.66% of strains. Ciprofloxacin is considered the drug
of choice for treating multidrug resistant MRSA infections. MRSA was isolated
from nasal swab of attendant and slaughterhouse workers (42.6%). In conclusion,
high mortalities and infertility of rabbits caused by multi-drug resistant strains
of MRSA with dissemination to environment and contamination of rabbit meat shed
the light on its impacts on rabbit production and public health. Thus, large-scale
epidemiological investigations of MRSA in rabbitry in Egypt are needed.