VETERINARY MEDICINE

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Browsing VETERINARY MEDICINE by Author "ABDULKADIR, Aliyu"

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    METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS IN HORSES AND HORSE HANDLERS IN KADUNA AND ZARIA, NIGERIA.
    (2014-09) ABDULKADIR, Aliyu
    Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is of great public health concern having become resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. They are associated with institutions such as hospitals, but are now increasingly becoming prevalent in community-acquired infections. The occurrence of MRSA in horses and horse handlers in Kaduna and Zaria, Nigeria was studied. Nasal swabs from 240 horses and 65 horse handlers were collected through a one-stage cluster sampling and analysed using standard microbiological tests and genotyping methods. Structured questionnaires were also administered to 65 horse handlers to assess for risk factors associated with MRSA colonisation. MRSA were found in 10% (24/240) and 6.2% (4/65) of the nasal swab samples collected from the horses and horse handlers respectively. Of the 44 S. aureus isolates tested for antibiotic susceptibility, 54.6% (24/44) were resistant to penicillin and oxacillin, 47.7% (21/44) to erythromycin, 34.1% (15/44) to tetracycline, 22.7% (10/44) to amikacin and gentamicin, 6.8% (3/44) to sulphamethoxazole+trimethoprim, 2.3% (1/44) to ciprofloxacin, and 2.3% (1/44) were resistant to chloramphenicol. Multidrug Resistance was found in 74.8% (21/28) of the MRSA isolates. SCCmec types I, III, and IV were found in both the horses and the horse handlers while only one horse was found to carry SCCmec V. Risk factors identified for the horse handlers included being a Veterinarian, recent exposure to antimicrobial agents, hospital visitation, and personal hygiene. Risk factors for the horses from this study were allergy and wound management. MRSA-carriage by horses and horse handlers alike as well as MDR (multidrug resistant) strains of S. aureus have been established from this study, which is of public health concern.