**Methicillin-Resistant** *Staphylococcus aureus* **(MRSA) in Food-Producing and Companion Animals and Food Products Methicillin-Resistant** *Staphylococcus aureus* **(MRSA) in Food-Producing and Companion Animals and Food Products**

Jungwhan Chon, Kidon Sung and Saeed Khan Khan

Jungwhan Chon, Kidon Sung and Saeed

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/66645

#### **Abstract**

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http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19762991

46 Frontiers in Frontiers in Staphylococcus Aureus *Staphylococcus aureus*

Microbiol 2010; **48**: 2741–2748. DOI: 10.1128/JCM.02201-09

Methicillin-resistant *Staphylococcus aureus* (MRSA) has become a growing concern in companion and food-producing animals. The presence of multidrug-resistance with a wide range of extracellular enterotoxin genes, virulence factors, and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (*pvl*) cytotoxin genes confer life-threatening traits on MRSA and makes them highly pathogenic and difficult to treat. Clonal complex 398 (CC398), a predominant clonal lineage of livestock-associated-MRSA in domestic animals and retail meat, is capable of infecting humans. In order to monitor and prevent MRSA contamination, it is critical to understand its source and transmission dynamics. In this review, we describe MRSA in food-producing animals (pig, cattle, chicken), horses, pet animals (dogs, cats), and food products (pork, beef, chicken, milk, and fish).

**Keywords:** MRSA, companion animals, food-producing animals, food products, CC398
