Pet animals as reservoirs for spreading methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to human health

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a strain of pathogenic bacteria that is a major problem in the world’s health. Due to their frequent interaction with humans, pets are one of the main risk factors for the spread of MRSA. The possibility for zoonotic transmission exists since frequently kept dogs and cats are prone to contract MRSA and act as reservoirs for spreading MRSA. The mouth, nose, and perineum are the primary locations of MRSA colonization, according to the findings of MRSA identification tests conducted on pets. The types of MRSA clones identified in cats and dogs correlated with MRSA clones infecting humans living in the same geographic area. A significant risk factor for the colonization or transmission of MRSA is human-pet contact. An essential step in preventing the spread of MRSA from humans to animals and from animals to humans is to keep hands, clothing, and floor surfaces clean.

The Epidemiology of Animal-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

“…They include: the excessive use of antimicrobial agents creating selective pressure enabling resistance to develop and persist in the environment, the emergence of novel sources of drug-resistant bacteria as well as novel routes for these bacteria to spread which allows not only the direct transmission of MRSA but also the occurrence of the horizontal transfer of resistance factors [ 12 ]. In the recent years, animals have become a profound secondary source of MRSA in the environment, and the frequent contact between animals and humans create a significant route of their transmission [ 13 ]. Therefore, to further fight antibiotic resistance in S. aureus , it is indispensable to investigate and understand novel reservoirs of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and the evolutionary consequences of their global spread.…”

The Occurrence and Characteristics of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcal Isolates from Foods and Containers

“…They are typically classified into two groups based on their ability to produce coagulase: coagulase-positive (CoPS) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) [ 1 ]. Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ), a CoPS member, is widely recognized as a major causative agent of food poisoning and infections in both clinical and community settings [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 ]. The production of coagulase by S. aureus promotes blood clotting, and the resulting fibrin coat on the bacterial surface may facilitate the evasion of the immune system.…”