Parachlamydia and Rhabdochlamydia in Premature

and beluga whales showed that none of these animals were colonized with MRSA. Overall, MRSA was isolated on >1 occasions from 5 dolphins (n = 6, 83.3%) and 3 walruses (n = 6, 50%) (Table). All strains were indistinguishable on PFGE and were consistent with the CMRSA2 (USA100) strain. They were also spa type t002 and did not possess the PVL toxin genes. This report of MRSA shows colonization in several dolphins and walruses, with apparent transmission between species. The direction of transmission cannot be determined because of the sampling method; however, a human origin is suspected because the clone that was isolated is a predominant human clone. The failure to identify a concurrently colonized person does not preclude a human source. Since the time MRSA was introduced into the facility is unknown, the source of infection may have been decolonized by the time of sampling or was not sampled. Furthermore, park visitors occasionally have contact with these animals so the origin could have been from the general public. Whether colonization of multiple animals was due to repeated instances of human-to-animal transmission or whether animal-to-animal transmission may have occurred is not clear. For the dolphins, the second scenario is most likely, considering the social nature of these animals and the inability to isolate colonized dolphins. These factors may have resulted in the circulation of MRSA among these animals. Although no water samples were obtained for testing, waterborne transmission cannot be dismissed. Colonization was eliminated without antimicrobial agents; however, long-term (15 months) MRSA colonization was found in 1 dolphin. With patience and continued use of infection control measures, MRSA was apparently eradicated from this facility without the need for active decolonization. This study shows the impressive ability of MRSA to colonize diverse animal species and provides further evidence suggesting that interspecies transmission of human epidemic clones can occur between persons and animals. This study also provides evidence suggesting that MRSA colonization in many animal species can be transient and that application of appropriate infection control and hygiene measures may be critical control tools for the management of MRSA in animals.

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