Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes and staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec types amongst Finnish community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains, 1997-1999. - UTU Research Portal

A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Panton-Valentine leukocidin genes and staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec types amongst Finnish community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains, 1997-1999.

Authors: Kardén-Lilja M, Ibrahem S, Vuopio-Varkila J, Salmenlinna S, Lyytikäinen O, Siira L, Virolainen A

Publication year: 2007

Journal: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

Journal name in source: European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology

Journal acronym: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis

Volume: 26

Issue: 10

First page : 729

Last page: 33

Number of pages: 5

ISSN: 0934-9723

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-007-0334-0

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains from Finland covering years 1997-1999 were studied for the presence of Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene loci, and the clinically well-defined community-acquired MRSA (CA-MRSA) strains (n = 108) also for staphylococcal chromosomal cassette mec (SCCmec) and multilocus sequence types (MLST). Only a minority (12%) of the CA-MRSA strains contained the PVL gene loci and possessed genotypes formerly described as typical to CA-MRSA strains. The majority of these strains were heterogenous by MLST and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis but, however, harboured the SCCmec cassette type IV. In conclusion, it seems doubtful to consider only molecular characteristics such as the presence of PVL genes as definite markers for CA-MRSA strains.