**2. History of MRSA in animals**

The first report of MRSA in animals was in milk from Belgium cows with mastitis (Morgan, 2008). Until 2000, MRSA had been isolated sporadically from animals, in particular cows, small companion animals, and horses. With exception of some equine isolates, the nature of these cases suggested a human origin and no epidemics have been reported. In this respect, until the end of 20th century, both the scientific community and policy makers were convinced that animal husbandry was of little relevance for MRSA causing diseases in humans, but was particularly a problem based on antimicrobial use in human medicine. The situation has changed with a growing number of reports of MRSA in livestock, especially pigs and veal calves. MRSA has also been reported in companion animals and horses, as well as transmission between humans and animals (Catry et al., 2010). Calling attention to this dramatic increase of MRSA in animals, van Duijkeren et al. (2010) at the Veterinary Microbiological Diagnostic Center, in the Netherlands, reported 0% MRSA in isolates from equine clinical samples in 2002 and then 37% in 2008.
