Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Colonization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus species in healthy and sick pets: prevalence and risk factors.
- Journal:
- BMC veterinary research
- Year:
- 2023
- Authors:
- Miszczak, Marta et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Birds and Exotic Animals
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
This study looked at the types of staph bacteria that can live on pets, both healthy and sick, to help keep animals and their owners safe. Researchers examined 274 pets, including 161 cats and 113 dogs, and found a wide variety of staph species, especially in healthy cats. They discovered that pets living with other animals, those who had received medical treatment in the past year, and homes with a medical professional had a higher chance of carrying these bacteria. Notably, a type of staph that is resistant to methicillin (a common antibiotic) was more often found in the coagulase-negative staph species, particularly in pets that lived in homes with other animals. Overall, the findings suggest that there is a significant risk of these bacteria being passed between pets and their owners, highlighting the need for more research on their impact on health.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The characterization of staphylococcal species that colonize pets is important to maintain animal health and to minimize the risk of transmission to owners. Here, the prevalence of Staphylococcus spp. and methicillin resistance was investigated in canine and feline isolates, and risk factors of staphylococcal colonization were determined. Pets were examined and separated into four groups: (1) healthy dogs, (2) healthy cats, and (3) dogs and (4) cats with clinical signs of bacterial infections of skin, mucous membranes, or wounds. Specimens were collected by a veterinary physician from six anatomic sites (external ear canal, conjunctival sacs, nares, mouth, skin [groin], and anus). In total, 274 animals (cats n = 161, dogs n = 113) were enrolled. RESULTS: Staphylococcus species were highly diverse (23 species; 3 coagulase-positive and 20 coagulase-negative species), with the highest variety in healthy cats (19 species). The most frequent feline isolates were S. felis and S. epidermidis, while S. pseudintermedius was the most prevalent isolate in dogs. Risk factors of staphylococcal colonization included the presence of other animals in the same household, medical treatment within the last year, and a medical profession of at least one owner. Methicillin resistance was higher in coagulase-negative (17.86%) compared to coagulase-positive (1.95%) staphylococci. The highest prevalence of methicillin-resistant CoNS colonization was observed in animals kept in homes as the most common (dogs and cats). CONCLUSIONS: The association of methicillin-resistant CoNS colonization with animals most often chosen as pets, represents a high risk of transmission between them and owners. The importance of nosocomial transmission of CoNS was also confirmed. This information could guide clinical decisions during the treatment of veterinary bacterial infections. In conclusion, the epidemiologic characteristics of CoNS and their pathogenicity in pets and humans require further research.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37464252/