Population structure of Staphylococcus aureus from remote African Babongo Pygmies.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Pandemic community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates (CA-MRSA) predominantly encode the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), which can be associated with severe infections. Reports from non-indigenous Sub-Saharan African populations revealed a high prevalence of PVL-positive isolates. The objective of our study was to investigate the S. aureus carriage among a remote indigenous African population and to determine the molecular characteristics of the isolates, particularly those that were PVL-positive.

Methodology/principal findings

Nasal S. aureus carriage and risk factors of colonization were systematically assessed in remote Gabonese Babongo Pygmies. Susceptibility to antibiotics, possession of toxin-encoding genes (i.e., PVL, enterotox

SUBMITTER: Schaumburg F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3091839 | biostudies-literature | 2011 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature