Antimicrobial Resistance in MRSA: A One Health Perspective on Animal, Plant, and Microbial Interactions
Faridah Mobolanle Banwo
Department of Zoology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Daniel Ossai
Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria.
Matthew Babalola
Department of Animal Science, University of Abuja, Gwagwalada, Nigeria.
Aishatu Muhammad Malami
Clinical Research Laboratory, Department of Medical Microbiology, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University and Teaching Hospital, Bauchi, Nigeria.
Chinwe Justice-Alucho
Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.
Chinonso Gerald Udensi
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
Ezinne Tiffany George
Department of Cardiovascular Disease, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
Sandra Chibuzor Olisakwe
Department of Hematology and Oncology, UAB School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA.
Jonathan Gebechukwu Areji *
Department of Mathematics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is no longer simply a hospital problem; it has spread to communities, animals, and the environment, posing a significant public health risk. Its capacity to resist common antibiotics stems from the acquisition of resistance genes, particularly mecA and mecC, which enable it to survive and persist in diverse ecological settings. Wildlife and livestock play important roles in this cycle, serving as hidden reservoirs for MRSA and facilitating its transmission among animals, food systems, and humans. At the same time, the extensive use of antibiotics in agriculture has intensified the problem, increasing the persistence and spread of resistant strains across soil, water, and plant-associated environments and making MRSA more difficult to control in food production and beyond. With antibiotic resistance on the rise, researchers are increasingly exploring alternative approaches for MRSA management, including plant-based antimicrobials. Proper understanding on how MRSA evolves, spreads, and protects itself through mechanisms such as biofilm formation, genetic adaptability, and environmental persistence, is essential for developing more effective control strategies. This review adopts a One Health perspective, highlighting key themes such as livestock reservoirs, environmental and plant interactions, and major resistance mechanisms. The findings therefore shows the need for a coordinated response that promotes prudent antibiotic use, integrated surveillance across human, animal, and environmental sectors, strengthened biosecurity in agriculture, and policy-driven interventions that support antimicrobial stewardship and investment in alternative therapies to reduce the spread of MRSA.
Keywords: MRSA, antimicrobial resistance, AMR, one health, animal, plant, microbe