Author(s)

Agnes Eyoh^1,2*, Marthie Ehlers³, Emilia Lyonga Mbamyah^1,2, John Antiabong³, Charles Fokunang², Marleen Kock³, Marie Claire Okomo Assoumou^1,2, Michel Toukam², Hortense Gonsu Kamga², George Ikomey^1,2, Martha Mesembe¹, Mandi Henshaw⁴, Christiana Haddison⁴, Sinata Koulla-Shiro^2,4

¹Center for the Study and Control of Communicable Diseases, Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
²Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
³Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Pretoria/National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), Pretoria, South Africa.
⁴Ministry of Public Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Nasal carriage of Staphylococcus aureus has been identified as a risk factor for the development of staphylococcal infections caused by endogenous colonizing strains. Information on the genotypic diversity of Staphylococcus aureus is relevant for managing epidemiological and clinical challenges resulting from the evolutionary differences of this bacterium. The objective of this study was to determine and compare the molecular diversity of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from three high-risk populations in Yaounde, Cameroon. Molecular analysis confirmed that 95% of 100 tested isolates were S. aureus. The mecA and Panton Valentine-Leukocidin (PVL) genes (lukS/F-PV) were detected in 37% (35/95) and 43% (41/95) of isolates respectively and 18% (17/95) of the isolates harboured both the mecA and lukS/F-PV genes. A mixed distribution of both methicillin sensitive S. aureus (MSSA)/PVL and methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA)/PVL strains were detected within the study population. Community associated MRSA accounted for 94% (33/35) of the isolates, further classified into allotypes SCCmec type IV 54% (19/35) and SCCmec type V 40% (14/35), while two isolates were hospital associated SCCmec type II strains. A majority of the isolates harboured a single aggressive gene regulator allele agr type I. Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) generated 18 pulsotypes that grouped isolates irrespective of the study population. Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) of 12 selected isolates was assigned to six pandemic clonal complexes (CC): CC5 (ST5), CC8 [ST8, (n = 3)], CC15 (ST 15), CC25 (ST 25), CC72 [ST72 (n = 2)] and CC121 [ST 121 (n = 2)] and three atypical sequence types ST 508, ST 699 (CC45) and ST 1289 (CC 88). The study population represents an important reservoir for MRSA, MRSA-PVL and MSSA-PVL which could serve as focal point for further dissemination bringing about significant clinical and epidemiological implications. The predominance of SCCmec IV and agr types in this setting warrants further investigation. Isolates were genetically diverse with MLST indicating that pandemic ST8 was predominant. Detection of atypical STs has provided an insight into the necessity for constant monitoring.

Nasal Carriage, Methicillin Resistant S. aureus, Methicillin Sensitive S. aureus, Panton-Valentine Leukocidin, Multilocus Sequence Typing

Eyoh, A. , Ehlers, M. , Mbamyah, E. , Antiabong, J. , Fokunang, C. , Kock, M. , Assoumou, M. , Toukam, M. , Kamga, H. , Ikomey, G. , Mesembe, M. , Henshaw, M. , Haddison, C. and Koulla-Shiro, S. (2021) Molecular Diversity of Staphylococcus aureus from the Nares of Hospital Personnel, HIV-Positive and Diabetes Mellitus Patients in Yaounde Cameroon. Advances in Microbiology, 11, 740-756. doi: 10.4236/aim.2021.1112053.