Distribution of antimicrobial resistance genes of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolated from animals and humans in Yogyakarta Indonesia

Background and Aim: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has been known as a highly pathogenic bacteria in animals and humans, which is still becoming a global health issue. The prevalence of MRSA infection continues to increase worldwide and has become a global concern as a dangerous zoonotic disease. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2050 MRSA will be the leading cause of death. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of MRSA in S. aureus isolates of veterinary and human origin in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: A total of 42 cases of S. aureus infection were examined in this study, consisting of nine isolates from cattle, five from goat, and 28 from human. All isolates were confirmed as S. aureus based on bacterial culture and detection of 23S rRNA and thermonuclease nuc gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: Among 42 isolates, 35 isolates (83.3%) were identified as MRSA by PCR positive of mecA gene encoding methicillin resistance. Most MRSA strains were found in human isolates (100%), followed by cattle isolates (55.5%) and goats (40%). All MRSA strains were also multi-resistant to penicillin (blaZ gene) and tetracycline (tetK, and tetM genes) with a prevalence of about 98%. Conclusion: MRSA prevalence in humans and animals has increased significantly in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, compared to the previous study. The antimicrobial resistance pattern of MRSA animal isolates tends to be similar to humans and, thus, raises public health concerns about MRSA zoonotic spread. Keywords: animal, antimicrobial resistance, human, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus aureus.