Risk Factors for Antimicrobial Resistance of Staphylococcus Species Isolated from Dogs with Superficial Pyoderma and Their Owners

Abstract

The microbial communities on the skin of dogs include several species of bacteria, which contribute to skin health and disease. Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, cultured at high frequency from the skin of dogs, is an opportunistic pathogen causing superficial pyoderma. Effective treatment against S. pseudintermedius infections is an important issue in veterinary medicine. However, multiple antibiotic-resistant mechanisms gradually developed by bacteria make treatment more challenging nowadays. Drug-resistant genes may have the chance to be transferred from infected dogs to other staphylococci in humans. The objective of this survey is to investigate the bacterial species that cause canine superficial pyoderma and characterize the antibiotic-resistant profiles and drug-resistant genes of isolated S. pseudintermedius. In addition, the possible risk factors causing S. pseudintermedius colonizing owners were also evaluated by a questionnaire survey. Sixty-five bacteria were isolated from dogs with superficial pyoderma, which included 47 S. pseudintermedius (72.3%), 12 other staphylococci (18.5%), 4 other Gram-positive bacteria (6.2%) and 2 Gram-negative bacteria (3.1%). Strains containing mecA and blaZ genes showed multiple-drug resistance characteristics. Dogs that received antimicrobial treatment within a recent month were at significantly higher risk of MRSP infections. Only five S. pseudintermedius strains (8.33%) were isolated from 60 samples of owners. Risk factor analysis indicated there was no significant association between S. pseudintermedius isolated from dogs and owners, but the “Keeping three or more dogs” and “Dogs can lick the owner’s face” have high odds ratios of 3.503 and 5.712, respectively. MRSP isolates belonged to three different dru types, including dt11y (29.41%), dt11a (47.06%) and dt10cp (23.53%). In conclusion, the major pathogen of canine superficial pyoderma is found to be S. pseudintermedius in Taiwan, and isolates which are mecA- or blaZ-positive are generally more resistant to commonly used antibiotics. Although S. pseudintermedius isolated from the owners might be transferred from their dogs, definite risk factors should be examined in the future study.

Resistance to Critical Important Antibacterials in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Strains of Veterinary Origin

“…Noticeably, all strains were susceptible to fusidic acid, conversely more than what was reported elsewhere [ 10 ]. The prevalence of resistant strains is similar to a previous report in Italy [ 11 ] but higher than reported in other geographical areas [ 4 , 10 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Most strains were resistant to penicillin and up to 60% were resistant to oxacillin, a percentage higher than recently reported in dogs [ 10 , 20 , 21 ] and cats [ 19 , 20 ].…”

“…The prevalence of resistant strains is similar to a previous report in Italy [ 11 ] but higher than reported in other geographical areas [ 4 , 10 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. Most strains were resistant to penicillin and up to 60% were resistant to oxacillin, a percentage higher than recently reported in dogs [ 10 , 20 , 21 ] and cats [ 19 , 20 ]. In staphylococci, methicillin-resistance is noticeable not only because it involves the resistance to many beta-lactams and cephalosporins but also because it is related to increased resistance towards other antibacterials [ 21 ].…”

“…The strains resistant to aminoglycosides, macrolides and lincosamides, quinolones, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and tetracyclines were over 50%, again, percentages higher than recently reported in recent studies [ 19 , 20 , 21 ] but in line with others [ 10 , 11 ]. Accordingly, the 60%prevalence of multi-drug resistant strains was higher as well.…”

“…Most strains were resistant to penicillin and up to 60% were resistant to oxacillin, a percentage higher than recently reported in dogs [ 10 , 20 , 21 ] and cats [ 19 , 20 ]. In staphylococci, methicillin-resistance is noticeable not only because it involves the resistance to many beta-lactams and cephalosporins but also because it is related to increased resistance towards other antibacterials [ 21 ]. Our results confirm these findings, since MRSP strains were more resistant to most of the tested antibacterials, apart from rifampicin and chloramphenicol.…”

Human Colonization and Infection by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius: An Emerging and Underestimated Zoonotic Pathogen

“…pseudintermedius in humans from 2006 when S . pseudintermedius was first reported in a human infection to 1 December 2022 [ 4 , 6 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 20 , 22 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 52 , 53 , 55 , 59 , 60 , 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 , 83 ]. A summary of all reported human S .…”