Basic study to record the prevalence of MRSA in pig breeding stocks

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can lead to severe health damage with fatal consequences particularly in the case of hospital patients. In recent years the preva-lence of a specific type of MRSA has been described in livestock. The European Union con-ducted a basic study in all Member States in order to estimate the spread (prevalence) of MRSA in pig breeding stocks. This study was coupled with a survey of the prevalence of Salmonella in these pig farms. The surveys were conducted between 1 January and 31 December 2008 on the basis of an EU study design. They recorded at least 80 % of breeding pigs in each Member State and were preferably carried out in farms with at least 50 breeding pigs. Representative pig farms for the different geographical situations were se-lected in each Member State.
Germany has presented the results of its basic study on the prevalence of MRSA in pig breeding herds. Sampling in the pig farms and data recording were done by the Länder au-thorities. The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) coordinated the study, monitored the diagnostics, did the isolate typing and drew up the report.
84 of the 201 stocks were tested positive for Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the dust samples examined. 93 % of the isolated MRSA belonged to the sequence type ST398 frequently found in livestock. This confirms the results of the studies conducted in cooperation with the Länder on the spread of MRSA in the German pig population.