Epidemiology of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in guide dogs in Finland

Abstract

BackgroundMethicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are common multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria in dogs. In 2012–2013 three dogs of the Guide Dog School of the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired were found to be MRSP positive. Guide dogs have regular contact with each other during their first year of life and prolonged contact when in training. Since dogs are placed in different parts of Finland after training, there is a risk for national spread of MDR bacteria. In this study the prevalence of MRSP and MRSA, as well as the risk factors for MRSP were determined in the Finnish guide dog population. MRSP isolates were investigated using molecular methods and compared to the earlier isolates.ResultsOut of 132 tested dogs 4 were MRSP positive thus giving the prevalence estimate of 3% (95% CI: 1–8%) for MRSP in the target population. MRSA was not detected (prevalence estimate 0%, 95% CI: 0–3%). Risk factors associated with MRSP were being a breeding bitch (OR = 8.4; 95% CI: 1.1–64.1, P = 0.012), the number of veterinary visits (OR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.0–1.5, P = 0.025) and number of antimicrobial courses (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.0–2.55; P = 0.035). Identified MRSP isolates belonged to five different sequence types (ST45, 71, 402, 403 and 404). All ST71 isolates carried SCCmec II-III, while the SCCmec type of the ST45 and ST402 (a single locus variant of ST45) isolates were non-typeable with the method used.ConclusionsMRSP and MRSA had low prevalence in the studied dog population despite the close contact between dogs, and the MRSP population was heterogenic. Antimicrobial therapy and veterinary visits are risk factors for MRSP even among a small case group.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13028-015-0129-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Antimicrobial resistance inStaphylococcus pseudintermediusand the molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistantS. pseudintermediusin small animals in Finland

“…Suspected MRSP isolates, based on resistance to oxacillin, 20 were confirmed to carry the mecA gene by PCR 16 . All confirmed isolates were stored at −80°C until further studied.…”

“…PFGE clusters were illustrated with GelCompar II (v. 6.5; Applied Maths NV, Belgium) by UPGMA-based analysis using the Dice similarity coefficient with an 80% similarity cut-off; optimization and position tolerance were set at 1.2% and 1.3%, respectively. At least one isolate from each PFGE cluster was selected for further characterization by MLST and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCC mec ) typing, 22 , 23 with modifications 16 . For some isolates, the MLST sequencing result for the tuf gene was poor with published primers 22 .…”

“…MLST results for isolates were extrapolated to all members of the PFGE cluster. Isolates for which data had previously been published were included in the study 15 , 16 …”

“…The study also identified ST45 as causing a smaller cluster. These two main clones were additionally identified among Finnish guide dogs, but the presence of other unrelated STs indicated diversity in the MRSP population 16 . However, no study has extensively explored the epidemiology of MRSP in Finland.…”

Skin and ear health in a group of English bulldogs in Finland – a descriptive study with special reference to owner perceptions

“…For ESBL, the swab was taken from the rectum . The swabs were processed and bacterial identification, including susceptibility testing and Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFG) analysis, was performed as described previously …”