Journal Article

Staphylococci in Livestock: Molecular Epidemiology, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Translational Strategies for One Health Protection

Elbehiry, Ayman, Marzouk, Eman

2025

Overview

Livestock-associated Staphylococcus species—particularly Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (S. pseudintermedius), and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS)—pose escalating threats to animal health, food safety, and public health due to their evolving antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles. This review synthesizes recent insights into the molecular epidemiology, resistance determinants, and host adaptation strategies of these pathogens across food-producing animals. We highlight the role of mobile genetic elements (MGEs), clonal dissemination, and biofilm formation in shaping multidrug resistance (MDR) patterns. Diagnostic advancements, including MALDI-TOF MS, whole-genome sequencing (WGS), and PCR-based assays, are discussed alongside treatment challenges arising from therapeutic failures and limited vaccine efficacy. The review critically examines current AMR surveillance gaps and the need for integrative One Health frameworks that encompass animals, humans, and the environment. Novel tools such as metagenomics, real-time genomic surveillance, and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven analytics are proposed to enhance predictive monitoring and resistance management. Together, these insights underscore the urgency of coordinated, evidence-based interventions to curb the spread of MDR staphylococci and safeguard One Health.

• Publisher: MDPI AG,MDPI
• Subject: Adaptation / alternative therapeutics / Animal welfare / Antibiotic resistance / Antibiotics / Antimicrobial agents / Antimicrobial resistance / Arthritis / Artificial intelligence / Bacteria / Coagulase / Dairy cattle / Disease / Disease transmission / Drug resistance / Drug resistance in microorganisms / Epidemiology / Farms / Food contamination / Genes / Genomics / Gram-positive bacteria / Horses / Infection / Livestock / livestock-associated Staphylococcus / Mastitis / Metagenomics / Methicillin / Milk / Multidrug resistance / one health surveillance / Pathogens / Pets / Plasmids / Pneumonia / Poultry / Probiotics / Public health / Regulatory reform / Review / Skin / Staphylococcus / Staphylococcus aureus / Staphylococcus aureus infections / Staphylococcus infections / Staphylococcus pseudintermedius / Surveillance / Tetracycline / Tetracyclines / Vaccine efficacy / Vaccines / Whole genome sequencing / Wound infection / Zoonoses