Genomic comparison of mecC-carrying methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from hedgehogs and humans in the Netherlands

Objectives MRSA carrying the mecC gene (mecC-MRSA) have been found in humans and animals worldwide. A high carriage rate of mecC-MRSA has been described among hedgehogs in different countries. We performed genomic comparison of mecC-MRSA from hedgehogs and humans using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to investigate possible zoonotic transmission in the Netherlands. Methods Nasal swabs from hedgehogs (n = 105) were cultured using pre-enrichment and selective plates. Isolates were sequenced using Illumina NGS platforms. These data were compared with sequence data of mecC-MRSA (n = 62) from the Dutch national MRSA surveillance in humans. Results Fifty hedgehogs were found to be MRSA positive, of which 48 carried mecC. A total of 60 mecC-MRSA isolates derived from 50 hedgehogs were compared with the human isolates. Fifty-nine mecC-MRSA from hedgehogs and all but one isolate from humans belonged to clonal complexes CC130 and CC1943. The mecC gene was located within the SCCmec XI element. Most mecC-MRSA did not carry other resistance genes besides mecC and blaZ. Two human isolates carried erm(C). Isolates differed in the presence of various virulence genes, which were linked to distinct STs and clonal complexes. Some isolates had up to 17 virulence genes, which underlines their pathogenic potential. No genetic clusters of hedgehog and human isolates were found. Conclusions mecC-MRSA from hedgehogs and humans mainly belonged to the same two clonal complexes, indicating a common source. No firm evidence for recent zoonotic transmission was found. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of hedgehogs in the occurrence of mecC-MRSA in humans.