The current study was designed to determine the prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) related Subclinical Mastitis (SCM) and detection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in dairy goats in Pakistan. A total of 385 milk samples were collected from Mianwali (n=192) and Narowal (n=193) districts and initially screened using Surf Field Mastitis Test (SFMT). SFMT based positive samples were processed for the isolation and identification of S. aureus by using mannitol salt agar. The positive samples were subjected to disc diffusion test using oxacillin discs and further confirmed through amplification of mecA gene to detect resistance against Methicillin in S. aureus isolates. Hypothesized risk factors for the occurrence of SCM were recorded and were analyzed through logistic regression model. The study revealed 39.2% (151/385) prevalence of SCM by SFMT which was mainly 80.8% (122/151) caused by S. aureus. MRSA prevalence through disc diffusion test was 18.8% (23/122) while PCR based prevalence was 6.5% (8/122). All the study isolates showed 99% homology with MRSA isolates of India, Turkey and Japan with accession numbers MH798869, EU790488 and NG047938, respectively, available in NCBI database. Milker’s care and hygienic measures during milking, milk yield, use of teat dips, presence of ticks, mixed type of grazing and services by professionals were proved to be the key risk factors associated with the occurrence of SCM in goats. This is the first report regarding the molecular characterization of MRSA isolated from dairy goats in Pakistan and the study will be helpful to provide information for developing control strategies against mastitis in goats.

To Cite This Article: Altaf M, Ijaz M, Iqbal MK, Rehman A, Avais M, Ghaffar A and Ayyub RM 2020. Molecular characterization of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and associated risk factors with the occurrence of goat mastitis. Pak Vet J, 40(1): 1-6. http://dx.doi.org/10.29261/pakvetj/2019.079