Project facts
Project manager
Main applicant
SVA
Start/end
2019 - 2020
Occurrence of MRSA in dairy goat herds
Foto: Ylva Persson SVA
Methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a widespread zoonotic bacterium of
increasing clinical importance. In humans, it may cause infections that are
difficult to treat due to multiresistance. Although animals may also develop
MRSA infections, they are most often healthy carriers, and this bacterium can
occur in many animal species. MRSA has previously been detected in goat herds in
Sweden, and with a high occurrence of mecC-MRSA in the goats, but only
few herds were investigated and most of these herds were non-milk-producing. Interestingly
a recent Austrian study indicated an association between mecC-MRSA and
goats with 8% of the goats being positive in that study. The prevalence of MRSA
among dairy goat herds in Sweden is not known. The aim of the present cross-sectional
study was therefore to study the prevalence
of MRSA in 22 dairy goat herds.
A total of 22 bulk milk samples and pooled swabs from nose, mouth and perineum from 115 goats, were collected for bacteriological investigation. No samples were found positive for MRSA.
To conclude, there are no indications of an emerging spread of MRSA in Swedish dairy goat herds.
Last updated :
2021-01-02