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



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

: 2007

: European Journal of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

: European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology

: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis

: 26

: 10

: 729

: 33

: 5

: 0934-9723

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


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.



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