Abstract
BackgroundMethicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are common multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria in dogs. In 2012–2013 three dogs of the Guide Dog School of the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired were found to be MRSP positive. Guide dogs have regular contact with each other during their first year of life and prolonged contact when in training. Since dogs are placed in different parts of Finland after training, there is a risk for national spread of MDR bacteria. In this study the prevalence of MRSP and MRSA, as well as the risk factors for MRSP were determined in the Finnish guide dog population. MRSP isolates were investigated using molecular methods and compared to the earlier isolates.ResultsOut of 132 tested dogs 4 were MRSP positive thus giving the prevalence estimate of 3% (95% CI: 1–8%) for MRSP in the target population. MRSA was not detected (prevalence estimate 0%, 95% CI: 0–3%). Risk factors associated with MRSP were being a breeding bitch (OR = 8.4; 95% CI: 1.1–64.1, P = 0.012), the number of veterinary visits (OR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.0–1.5, P = 0.025) and number of antimicrobial courses (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.0–2.55; P = 0.035). Identified MRSP isolates belonged to five different sequence types (ST45, 71, 402, 403 and 404). All ST71 isolates carried SCCmec II-III, while the SCCmec type of the ST45 and ST402 (a single locus variant of ST45) isolates were non-typeable with the method used.ConclusionsMRSP and MRSA had low prevalence in the studied dog population despite the close contact between dogs, and the MRSP population was heterogenic. Antimicrobial therapy and veterinary visits are risk factors for MRSP even among a small case group.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13028-015-0129-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Highlights
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are common multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria in dogs
In 2012–2013, MRSP was found in routine clinical specimens of three guide dogs, all suffering from atopic dermatitis
This study consisted of four parts; (1) a cross-sectional prevalence study of MRSP/A in the guide dog population as well as a case–control study to determine the risk factors for MRSP/A, (2) the screening of contact dogs of MRSP positive dogs from the prevalence study, along with extended screening of breeding bitches of the Guide Dog School and (3) the comparison of the MRSP isolates from these dogs
Summary
Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are common multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria in dogs. In this study the prevalence of MRSP and MRSA, as well as the risk factors for MRSP were determined in the Finnish guide dog population. The dogs of the Guide Dog School constitute a special group of animals; they are in close contact during training at the Guide Dog School kennel, after which they are sent all over the country During their service years, they regularly visit the school’s premises. Nationwide risk for spread of resistant bacteria is a valid concern Due to these factors it was decided that the epidemiology of MRSP and MRSA needed to be determined in this population. The present study was conducted (1) to establish the prevalence of MRSP and MRSA in the Finnish guide dog population, (2) to genotype and compare isolates from the Guide Dog School’s dog population and (3) to detect risk factors for carriage of MRSP
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