Carriage of methicillin‐resistant staphylococci by healthy companion animals in the US. (15th April 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Davis, J.A.; Jackson, C.R.; Fedorka‐Cray, P.J.; Barrett, J.B.; Brousse, J.H.; Gustafson, J.; Kucher, M.
• Is Part Of: Letters in applied microbiology. Volume 59:Number 1(2014:Jul.)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 8
• Publication Date: 2014-04-15
• Subjects: Microbiology -- Periodicals; 660.62
• DOI: 10.1111/lam.12254
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0266-8254

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="lam12254-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="lam12254-sec-1001" sec-type="section"> <p>Antimicrobial‐resistant staphylococci have been associated with wounded or ill companion animals, but little is known about the prevalence of resistant staphylococci among healthy animals. In this study, 276 healthy dogs and cats from veterinary clinics were tested for the presence of antimicrobial‐resistant <italic>Staphylococcus</italic> spp. Isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility and the presence of select resistance genes, and typed using Pulsed‐Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> and <italic>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</italic> were also characterized using multilocus sequence typing (MLST), <italic>spa</italic> typing and SCC<italic>mec</italic> typing. Approximately 5% (14/276) of the animals were positive by enrichment for five species of staphylococci [<italic>Staph. aureus</italic> (<italic>n </italic>= 11), <italic>Staph. pseudintermedius</italic> (<italic>n </italic>= 4), <italic>Staphylococcus sciuri</italic> (<italic>n </italic>= 6), <italic>Staphylococcus simulans</italic> (<italic>n </italic>= 1) and <italic>Staphylococcus warneri</italic> (<italic>n </italic>= 1)]. Seventy‐eight per cent (18/23) of staphylococci were resistant to oxacillin and also multidrug resistant (resistance to ≥ 2 antimicrobials). All <italic>Staph. aureus</italic> isolates were <italic>mecA+</italic> and <italic>blaZ+</italic>, SCC<italic>mec</italic> type II, <italic> spa</italic> type t002, ST5 and clonal using PFGE. <italic>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</italic> were SCC<italic>mec</italic> type IV or V, <italic>spa</italic> type t06 and ST170; two of the isolates were <italic>pvl</italic><sup><italic>+</italic></sup>. These results suggest that healthy companion animals may be a reservoir of multidrug‐resistant staphylococci, which may be transferred to owners and others who handle companion animals.</p> </sec> <sec id="lam12254-sec-1002" sec-type="section"> <title>Significance and Impact of the Study</title> <p>In this study, antimicrobial‐resistant coagulase‐negative and coagulase‐positive staphylococci were isolated from various body sites on healthy dogs and cats. Resistance to 14 antimicrobials was observed including resistance to oxacillin; the majority of staphylococci were also multidrug resistant. Results from this study suggest that healthy dogs and cats may act as reservoirs of antimicrobial‐resistant bacteria that may be transferred to people by simple interaction with the animals. Such carriage poses an underlying risk of infection, which should be considered during handling of healthy dogs and cats by pet owners and veterinary personnel.</p> </sec> </abstract>