• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.35 no.4
• /
• pp.391-397
• /
• 2020

Human infections with livestock-associated methicillin-resistant/-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA/LA-MSSA) have recently been increasing significantly. These LA-MRSA and LA-MSSA strains can be transmitted to individuals who have frequent contact with livestock animals and foods of animal origin. In this study, major virulence potentials of S. aureus such as biofilm formation, antimicrobial peptide resistance, and in vitro hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) resistance were assessed using 20 MRSA and MSSA strains isolated from raw milk, beef cattle, and workers in the livestock industry. Static biofilm formation assays revealed that there is no difference in levels of biofilm production between MRSA versus MSSA or bovine- versus human-associated strains. In vitro BMAP (bovine myeloid antimicrobial peptide)-28 susceptibility assays also revealed no difference in the resistance to the antimicrobial peptide between MRSA versus MSSA or bovine- versus human-associated S. aureus strains. However, LA-MRSA strains displayed increased resistance to H₂O₂, which may play an important role in survival and dissemination of the pathogen in livestock. These results provide an important basis for understanding pathogenic potentials of LA-MRSA and LA-MSSA strains in human and animal hosts.