Methicillin‐sensitive and methicillin‐resistantStaphylococcus aureusstrains and their toxin genes in the nostrils of dogs and workers at an animal shelter

Abstract

Aims Methicillin‐sensitive and methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA and MRSA, respectively) in the nostrils of dogs and workers at an animal shelter were cultured. Staphylococcal toxin genes were analysed to identify potential health concerns. Methods and Results Samples were obtained from 441 dogs and 9 workers. The respective isolation rates of S. aureus and MRSA were 49·0% (216/441) and 1·6% (7/441) for shelter dogs and 44·4% (4/9) and 33·3% (3/9) for workers, respectively. Isolation of S. aureus in summer (61·9%) and in adult dogs (59·2%) were significantly higher than those in winter (35·8%) and in juvenile dogs (33·3%) (P < 0·001), respectively. The predominant enterotoxin genotypes and combination profiles of S. aureus were (sea, seb, seg, sei, sem, sen, seo, seu) and (sea, sea‐seb, and seg‐sei‐sem‐sen‐seo‐seu), respectively, and 20% of isolates carried food poisoning‐associated enterotoxins. The se profiles in shelter dogs were different from those in general pet dogs and their owners. MRSA isolates were identified as SCCmec IV and VII, and they shared se combination profiles of (sec‐seg‐sei‐sel‐sem‐sen‐seo‐seu) and (seb‐sek‐seq). MRSA in this shelter had similar microbiological characteristics as those reported in CA‐MRSA ST59 in humans. Conclusions Human health‐associated bacteria and food poisoning‐related toxin genes were identified. Further evaluations of health concerns in animal shelters are necessary. Significance and Impact of the Study This is the first study to focus on se prevalence and MRSA characteristics in an animal shelter in Taiwan. The MRSA characteristics determined in this study were similar to those of CA‐MRSA strains isolated from communities in the past, indicating potential health risks in cities.

Whole genome sequencing of coagulase positive staphylococci from a dog-and-owner screening survey

“…In both S. aureus isolates (Q47-Q85) we detected the enterotoxin gene cluster (egc) which contains the following toxin genes: seg, sei, sem, sen, seo, seu. This cluster is frequently recovered from dog and livestock samples [67][68][69][70]. Among the S. aureus isolates, Q47 contained the most types of enterotoxins and this human strain possessed the only classical SE (a-e): the sec subtype 2.…”

“…Among the S. aureus isolates, Q47 contained the most types of enterotoxins and this human strain possessed the only classical SE (a-e): the sec subtype 2. Previously the sec gene was commonly found in bovine samples and human MRSA isolates, but it appeared in samples of dog origin as well [67,[69][70][71][72][73][74][75]. In Q47 sel was also identified which has already been described from raw meat samples [70].…”

Serological Screening for Antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in Dutch Shelter Cats

“…Billions of cats worldwide live in close contact with their owners and millions of cats pass through temporal stays in animal shelters. Zoonotic pathogens do emerge in shelters [ 17 , 18 ]. Within a One Health approach, shelters can be sentinels for these emerging diseases.…”

Eleutheroside K Isolated from Acanthopanax henryi (Oliv.) Harms Inhibits the Expression of Virulence-Related Exoproteins in Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

“…SEs have been recognized as bacterial superantigens that induce cellular proliferation, cytokine storm, and toxic shock syndrome [ 36 ]. Additionally, the emetic activity of SEs and the resistance to inactivation of SEs caused by gastrointestinal proteases have potential to trigger staphylococcal gastroenteritis and food poisoning in humans [ 34 ].…”