MRSA clone ST398-SCCmec IV as a cause of infections in an equine clinic

Thirteen multidrug-resistant MRSA strains from infections of hospitalized horses in an equine clinic were analyzed. They all were indigestible by SmaI restriction, possessed SCCmec type IV and belonged to spa type t011. One isolate was analyzed by MLST and allotted to ST398. The MRSA clonal lineage ST398-SCCmec IV appears to have a high capability of causing clinical infections in an equine hospital environment.