High genetic diversity of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) from humans and animals on livestock farms and presence of SCCmec remnant DNA in MSSA CC398

Abstract

MSSA CC398 precursors from which MRSA CC398 might (re)emerge were present on pig, veal and broiler farms, all of which are livestock sectors commonly known to be affected by MRSA CC398. The multiresistance phenotype of S. aureus CC398 appears to be independent of methicillin resistance.