Molecular detection and antibiogram of Staphylococcus aureus in rabbits, rabbit handlers, and rabbitry in Terengganu, Malaysia

Min Hian Chai; Muhammad Zikree Sukiman; Nurlailasari Mohammad Najib; Nor Arifah Mohabbar; Nur Aina Nadhirah Mohd Azizan; Noor Muzamil Mohamad; Siti Mariam Zainal Ariffin; Mohd Faizal Ghazali

Molecular detection and antibiogram of Staphylococcus aureus in rabbits, rabbit handlers, and rabbitry in Terengganu, Malaysia

2021

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the prevalence and antibiogram of Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistance S. aureus (MRSA) in rabbits, rabbit handlers, and rabbitry environments in Terengganu. Materials and Methods: Swab samples from 183 rabbits (183 oral and 183 ear swabs), 45 rabbit handlers (45 oral and 45 nasal), and environmental (n = 180) samples from rabbitries were collected from 10 rabbit farms in Terengganu. The associated S. aureus isolates from the swabs were isolated using phenotypic microbiology tests. The bacteria were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction targeting nuc (S. aureus) and mecA (MRSA) genes. The antibiogram of all S. aureus isolates was determined using the KirbyBauer test. Results: Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 19% of rabbits, 26.7% of rabbit handlers, and 8.8% of swabs from the rabbitry environment. However, MRSA (0%) could not be detected. Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that S. aureus from rabbits showed low resistance ( [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021; 8(3.000): 388-395]

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