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bioRxiv · 10.1101/727032

Dynamics of Livestock-Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pig farms networks: insight from mathematical modeling and French data

Bastard, J.·Andraud, M.·Chauvin, C.·Glaser, P.·Opatowski, L.·Temime, L.
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Abstract

Livestock-associated methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (LA-MRSA) colonizes livestock animals worldwide, especially pigs and calves. Although frequently carried asymptomatically, LA-MRSA can cause severe infections in humans. It is therefore important to better understand LA-MRSA spreading dynamics within pig farms and over pig farms networks, and to compare different strategies of control and surveillance. For this purpose, we propose a stochastic meta-population model of LA-MRSA spread along the French pig-farm network (n=10,542 farms), combining within- and between-farms dynamics, based on detailed data on breeding practices and pig exchanges between holdings. We calibrate the model using French epidemiological data. We then identify farm-level factors associated with the spreading potential of LA-MRSA in the network. We also show that, assuming control measures applied in a limited (n=100) number of farms, targeting farms depending on their centrality in the network is the only way to significantly reduce LA-MRSA global prevalence. Finally, we investigate the scenario of emergence of a new LA-MRSA strain, and find that the farms with the highest indegree would be the best sentinels for a targeted surveillance of such a strains introduction.

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Bastard, J., Andraud, M., Chauvin, C., Glaser, P., Opatowski, L., Temime, L.. 2019-08-06. Dynamics of Livestock-Associated Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in pig farms networks: insight from mathematical modeling and French data. https://doi.org/10.1101/727032

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