Genomic comparison of mecC MRSA from hedgehogs and humans in the Netherlands

MRSA carrying the mecC gene (mecC-MRSA) have been found in humans and animals worldwide. A high carriage rate of mecC-MRSA has been described among hedgehogs in Scandinavia. We performed genomic comparison of mecC-MRSA from hedgehogs and humans by using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to investigate possible zoonotic transmission in the Netherlands. Nasal swabs from hedgehogs (n=105) were cultured using pre-enrichment and selective plates. Isolates were sequenced using Illumina NGS platforms. These data were compared to sequence data of mecC-MRSA (n=62) from the Dutch national MRSA surveillance in humans. Fifty hedgehogs were found MRSA-positive, of which 48 carried mecC and two mecA. A total of 62 MRSA isolates derived from 50 hedgehogs were compared to the human isolates. Fifty-five mecC-MRSA from hedgehogs and all but one isolate from humans belonged to clonal complexes CC130 and CC1943. The mecC gene was located within the SCCmec XI element. The mecA positive isolates carried a SCCmec IVa cassette and belonged to CC5 and CC398. mecC-MRSA (except for two human isolates) and the CC5 isolate did not carry other resistance genes besides mecA or mecC and blaZ. The mecA-MRSA CC398 carried aac(6')-aph(2''), dfrK and tet(M). Two human isolates carried erm(C). Isolates differed in the presence of various virulence genes, which were linked to distinct STs and clonal complexes. Some isolates had up to seventeen virulence genes, which underlines their pathogenic potential. No genetic clusters of hedgehog and human isolates were found. In conclusion, mecC MRSA from hedgehogs and humans mainly belonged to two clonal complexes, without evidence for recent zoonotic transmission.