Abstract
The Staphylococcus pseudintermedius group (SIG) is an emerging threat in veterinary medicine, particularly methicillin-resistant (MRSP) isolates, which are frequently associated with multidrug resistance. Reliable identification of SIG members is critical to establish correct antimicrobial treatments. However, information on the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance patterns of MRSP in some regions is still limited. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial resistance of SIG isolates recovered from animals at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of Complutense University of Madrid (Spain) during a 10-year period (2007–2016). A total of 139 selected Staphylococcus isolates were subjected to species-level identification by different bioanalytical techniques (PCR, VITEK, MALDI-TOF) and subsequent antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Methicillin-resistant isolates (n = 20) were subjected to whole genome sequencing for further characterization of their antibiotic resistance determinants. Our results showed that there was a good correlation between PCR and MALDI-TOF identification, whereas VITEK showed very divergent results, thus confirming MALDI-TOF as a good alternative for species-level identification of coagulase-positive staphylococci. Notably, S. pseudintermedius, including the epidemic MRSP genotype ST71, was the only SIG species found among canine isolates. In addition, we found a high prevalence of multidrug resistance and resistance to fluoroquinolones, cephalosporins and macrolides. Finally, diverse genes associated with antibiotic resistance were detected among MRSP isolates, although the genetic basis of some of the resistant phenotypes (particularly to fluoroquinolones) could not be determined. In conclusion, our study reveals the circulation of MRSP in the veterinary setting in Spain, thus highlighting the emerging threat posed by this bacterial group and the need for further epidemiological surveillance.
Highlights
IntroductionStaphylococcus aureus is a well-recognized pathogen that is responsible for a plethora of clinical manifestations (from skin infections to endocarditis, including fatal outcomes) in humans and animals worldwide
Staphylococcus aureus is a well-recognized pathogen that is responsible for a plethora of clinical manifestations in humans and animals worldwide
Most Staphylococcus isolates analyzed in this study were recovered from dogs (128/139, 92.1% of the total), but isolates came from other sources including horses (n = 4, 2.9%), cats and mice (n = 2, 1.4% each), and lion, sheep and swine (n = 1, 0.7% each)
Summary
Staphylococcus aureus is a well-recognized pathogen that is responsible for a plethora of clinical manifestations (from skin infections to endocarditis, including fatal outcomes) in humans and animals worldwide. Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CoPS) isolates other than S. aureus, including the members of the Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG, namely, S. intermedius, S. pseudintermedius and S. delphini) are emerging as a serious threat in veterinary medicine, especially in small animals. S. pseudintermedius is considered the main CoPS species recovered from household pets [1]. S. pseudintermedius is part of the normal microbiome of small animals and is considered an opportunistic pathogen that is implicated in a variety of infections (skin, uterus, urinary tract, abscesses, etc.) [2]. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains have become a major cause of concern in animal and human medicine.
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