211377 Epidemiology of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in livestock and its presence in retail meat in Canada

Monday, November 9, 2009: 10:35 AM

J. Scott Weese, DVM, DVSc , Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
     
Zoonotic transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging concern. A variety of companion animals and livestock have been found to carry MRSA, and transmission of MRSA between humans and animals, in both directions, has been documented. Surveillance for MRSA in livestock and retail meat is an important step for understanding the epidemiology of MRSA and the potential human health implications. Differences in the prevalence of MRSA colonization can be encountered between different livestock species and between different age groups. Recent studies identifying MRSA in retail meat have raised further concern, although the origins and implications of this are currently unclear. The epidemiology of MRSA in cattle and pigs in Canada, as well as parallel studies of retail meat will be discussed. The presence of MRSA in food animals and food will be related to changes in the epidemiology of MRSA in Europe and North America.

Learning Objectives:
1. Discuss the basic epidemiology of MRSA in food animals, and the potential relevance of food animal and food contamination on human health. 2. Identify major knowledge gaps that limit the conclusions that can be drawn about the role of livestock in human MRSA infections.

Keywords: Food Safety, Epidemiology

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am an internationally recognized expert in MRSA in animals and food. I am a veterinary internist and microbiologist with expertise in zoonotic diseaes and mutlidrug resistant bacteria. I have been an invite speaker on the topic of MRSA internationally and have published extensively in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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