Investigation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus argenteus from wild long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) at Kosumpee Forest Park, Maha Sarakham, Thailand

Research (Published online: 26-11-2022)

21. Investigation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus argenteus from wild long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) at Kosumpee Forest Park, Maha Sarakham, Thailand

Natapol Pumipuntu, Thanyaphorn Chamnandee, Kittisak Saengthong, Suvit Pathomthanasarn, Tawatchai Tanee, Pensri Kyes, Penkhae Thamsenanupap, Apichat Karaket, Marilyn C. Roberts, and Randall C. Kyes

Veterinary World, 15(11): 2693-2698

Natapol Pumipuntu: One Health Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand; Veterinary Infectious Disease Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand; Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand.

Thanyaphorn Chamnandee: One Health Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand; Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand.

Kittisak Saengthong: One Health Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand; Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand.

Suvit Pathomthanasarn: One Health Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand; Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand.

Tawatchai Tanee: One Health Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand; Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand.

Pensri Kyes: Department of Psychology, Center for Global Field Study, and Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Penkhae Thamsenanupap: One Health Research Unit, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand; Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahasarakham University, Maha Sarakham, Thailand.

Apichat Karaket: Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation, Bangkok, Thailand.

Marilyn C. Roberts: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.

Randall C. Kyes: Departments of Psychology, Global Health, and Anthropology, Center for Global Field Study, and Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.

doi: www.doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2022.2693-2698

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Article history: Received: 20-06-2022, Accepted: 13-10-2022, Published online: 26-11-2022

Corresponding author: Natapol Pumipuntu

E-mail: natapol.p@msu.ac.th

Citation: Pumipuntu N, Chamnandee T, Saengthong K, Pathomthanasarn S, Tanee T, Kyes P, Thamsenanupap P, Karaket A, Roberts MC, and Kyes RC (2022) Investigation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus argenteus from wild long-tailed macaques (Macaca fascicularis) at Kosumpee Forest Park, Maha Sarakham, Thailand, Veterinary World, 15(11): 2693–2698.

Abstract

Background and Aim: In the past, the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections in both humans and animals has increased across Thailand. Staphylococcus argenteus has been associated with infections among humans, exotic pets, and livestock. Both species have been identified in non-human primate species from geographically diverse locations but not from non-human primates in Thailand. This study aimed to determine the presence of MRSA/ methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and S. argenteus isolates collected from buccal swab samples in Macaca fascicularis at Kosumpee Forest Park (KFP), Maha Sarakham, Northeast Thailand.

Materials and Methods: Aseptic buccal swab samples were collected from 30 free-ranging macaques in November 2018. All isolates were tested using multiple biochemical tests and S. aureus latex slide agglutination test. Presumptive S. aureus isolates were tested for the presence of the mecA gene using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The isolates were phenotypically determined to be resistant to a β-lactam antibiotic using the disk diffusion method with a 30 μg cefoxitin disk. The isolates were analyzed by PCR for the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) gene to distinguish S. argenteus from S. aureus.

Results: Fifteen macaques (50%) were colonized with S. aureus and 21 isolates were characterized. Three of the macaques carried both the MRSA and MSSA isolate. One animal carried both MRSA and S. argenteus isolate, and one animal carried only S. argenteus. The NRPS gene analysis confirmed that 2 isolates (9.52%) were S. argenteus and 19 isolates (90.48%) were S. aureus [five MSSA and 14 MRSA].

Conclusion: This study is the first to identify MRSA/MSSA and S. argenteus in wild free-ranging M. fascicularis from Thailand at the KFP in Maha Sarakham. This study is also the first report on the occurrence of S. argenteus carriage in M. fascicularis from Thailand.

Keywords: Macaca fascicularis, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, non-ribosomal peptide synthetase gene, Staphylococcus argenteus.