Nasal Colonization of Pigs and Farm attendants by Staphylococcus aureus and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Kebbi, Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a leading cause of nosocomial, community and livestockassociated colonization and infection worldwide. This study aimed at investigating the nasal colonization of pigs and
farm attendants by S. aureus and MRSA in Kebbi, North-Western Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted in
Kebbi Northwestern Nigeria using simple random sampling. A total of 212 nasal swabs were collected from two farms
consisting of 100 samples each from pigs and 12 samples from farm attendants. A well-structured questionnaire was
administered for risk factor analysis. Nasal swabs were examined using routine bacteriological culture and
identification. Presumptive MRSA was confirmed by PCR assay. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of MRSA
isolates were evaluated using the disk diffusion method. Among the 212 samples examined, 19.4 % (41/212) of pigs
tested positive for MRSA and 1.4% (3/212) of farm attendants were MRSA positive. All the isolates were susceptible
to vancomycin, with an AMR index ˃0.3. The findings of this study indicated nasal colonization of pigs and humans
by S. aureus and MRSA, thus suggesting that individuals in close contact with animals are at risk of being colonized.