Parallel Epidemics of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300 Infection in North and South America.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-15-2015
JAX Location
Reprint Collection
JAX Source
J Infect Dis 2015 Dec 15; 212(12):1874-82.
Volume
212
Issue
12
First Page
1874
Last Page
1882
ISSN
1537-6613
PMID
26048971
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) epidemic in the United States is attributed to the spread of the USA300 clone. An epidemic of CA-MRSA closely related to USA300 has occurred in northern South America (USA300 Latin-American variant, USA300-LV). Using phylogenomic analysis, we aimed to understand the relationships between these 2 epidemics.
METHODS: We sequenced the genomes of 51 MRSA clinical isolates collected between 1999 and 2012 from the United States, Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Phylogenetic analysis was used to infer the relationships and times since the divergence of the major clades.
RESULTS: Phylogenetic analyses revealed 2 dominant clades that segregated by geographical region, had a putative common ancestor in 1975, and originated in 1989, in North America, and in 1985, in South America. Emergence of these parallel epidemics coincides with the independent acquisition of the arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) in North American isolates and a novel copper and mercury resistance (COMER) mobile element in South American isolates.
CONCLUSIONS: Our results reveal the existence of 2 parallel USA300 epidemics that shared a recent common ancestor. The simultaneous rapid dissemination of these 2 epidemic clades suggests the presence of shared, potentially convergent adaptations that enhance fitness and ability to spread.
J Infect Dis 2015 Dec 15; 212(12):1874-82.
Recommended Citation
Planet P,
Diaz L,
Kolokotronis S,
Narechania A,
Reyes J,
Xing G,
Rincon S,
Smith H,
Panesso D,
Ryan C,
Smith D,
Guzman M,
Zurita J,
Sebra R,
Deikus G,
Nolan R,
Tenover F,
Weinstock GM,
Robinson D,
Arias C.
Parallel Epidemics of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA300 Infection in North and South America. J Infect Dis 2015 Dec 15; 212(12):1874-82.