Human-to-Dog Transmission of Methicillin-ResistantStaphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was cultured from the nose of a healthy dog whose owner was colonized with MRSA while she worked in a Dutch nursing home. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and typing of the staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec (SCC mec ) region showed that both MRSA strains were identical.

Potential Role of Pet Animals in Household Transmission of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus: A Narrative Review

“…Several of the identified cases suggest that humans are the initial source of MRSA colonization (van Duijkeren et al 2004, Weese et al 2006, Nienhoff et al 2009) in the household. Several of the human subjects were exposed to various types of healthcare settings (Cefai et al 1994, van Duijkeren et al 2004, Weese et al 2006, which increase the likelihood of contact with MRSA-infected humans.…”

“…Several of the human subjects were exposed to various types of healthcare settings (Cefai et al 1994, van Duijkeren et al 2004, Weese et al 2006, which increase the likelihood of contact with MRSA-infected humans. Moreover, the isolates found in the pets were often the same human strain that was endemic to the region of study (van Duijkeren et al 2004, Vitale et al 2006). These observations indicate a recurrent pattern of transmission: pets can acquire human strains of MRSA bacteria from their owners or other humans, and they are capable of causing colonization and/or infection of human cohabitants.…”

“…Possible explanations for this include the relative difficulty of swabbing cats for data collection or the fact that dogs tend to experience closer human contact. Four of the eight case reports noted that infection of human subjects persisted until the pet (as well as any other colonized or infected cohabitants) was treated with antimicrobials to which the bacteria were susceptible (Manian 2003, van Duijkeren et al 2004, Sing et al 2008). These observations are consistent with the common view that pets can serve as reservoirs of MRSA infection (Oehler et al 2009, Stein 2009, Gaze et al 2008, Morgan 2008, potentially causing re-infection of their owners after the owners have been treated for the initial MRSA infection.…”

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci Isolated from Healthy Horses and Horse Personnel in Italy

“…A putative risk of MRSA cross-transmission between humans and horses has been described. 21,26 In addition, a case of MRSA human-to-dog transmission, 27 as well as other cases of MRSA cross-transmission between domestic animals and humans, 17,23 has been reported. Instead, very little is known about CoN MRS transmission between animals and humans.…”

“…Indeed, antimicrobial therapy of health care workers and, at the same time, of MRSA carriers and any family members or pets that have been in contact with infected subjects can eliminate recurrent MRSA infections. 27 In addition, mecA-harboring, coagulase-negative (CoN) staphylococci have been isolated from several domesticated and healthy animals. 14,32 Potential human-to-animal transmission of MRSA has already been reported.…”