From Farm to Community: Dispersal of Potentially Pathogenic Staphylococcus and Mammaliicoccus Species and Antimicrobial Resistance Across Shared Environments

Abstract

Staphylococcaceae are a diverse bacterial family with important implications for human and animal health. This study highlights the One Health relevance of their environmental dispersal, particularly, by identifying closely related or genetically identical strains circulating between farm and community environments. Environmental Staphylococcaceae strains were isolated from animal farms and interconnected areas within a university setting, both influenced by anthropogenic activities. Genetic diversity analysis via GTG₅-PCR revealed that specific strains circulated across these environments, likely facilitated by human interaction, supporting the potential for cross-environmental bacterial transfer. The strains were further tested for antimicrobial resistance against a panel of antibiotics, biofilm formation, and the presence of resistance-associated genes. We identified a wide array of Staphylococcaceae species (n = 16), with over half being pathogenic to humans and animals, including S. aureus, S. epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, and S. saprophyticus. Notably, 55.5% of the strains exhibited multidrug resistance, and 15.9% harbored the methicillin resistance gene mecA, underscoring the challenges these infections might pose to treatment. Biofilm-forming capabilities further enhance the environmental persistence of these strains. These findings underscore the critical need for surveillance and targeted intervention strategies in a One Health framework to mitigate antimicrobial resistance across shared environments.