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Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
12:18

Subcutaneous Infection of Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)

Published on: February 9, 2011

Methicillin resistance of staphylococci isolated from the skin of dogs with pyoderma

Stephen A Kania1, Nicola L Williamson, Linda A Frank

  • 1Department of Comparative Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.

American Journal of Veterinary Research
|October 14, 2004
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Methicillin resistance in staphylococcal isolates from dogs with pyoderma was investigated. While Staphylococcus intermedius showed low resistance, Staphylococcus schleiferi exhibited widespread methicillin resistance, often linked to the mecA gene.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Dermatology
  • Microbiology
  • Antimicrobial Resistance

Background:

  • Pyoderma is a common skin infection in dogs.
  • Methicillin resistance in staphylococci poses a significant challenge in both human and veterinary medicine.
  • Understanding resistance profiles is crucial for effective treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and characteristics of methicillin resistance in staphylococcal isolates from dogs diagnosed with pyoderma.
  • To investigate the presence of the mecA gene and penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) expression in these isolates.

Main Methods:

  • Staphylococcal isolates from 90 dogs with pyoderma were analyzed.
  • Methicillin susceptibility was tested using disk diffusion with oxacillin.
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed to detect the mecA gene.
  • Latex agglutination assay was used to determine PBP2a expression.
  • Staphylococcal species were identified through various laboratory tests.

Main Results:

  • The majority of isolates were methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus intermedius.
  • Only 2 out of 57 S. intermedius isolates were methicillin-resistant.
  • Approximately 50% of S. intermedius isolates possessed the mecA gene and produced PBP2a.
  • Staphylococcus schleiferi was the second most common isolate, showing widespread methicillin resistance.
  • Methicillin resistance mediated by the mecA gene was more frequent in coagulase-negative S. schleiferi compared to coagulase-positive strains.

Conclusions:

  • Staphylococcus schleiferi is a significant reservoir of methicillin resistance in canine pyoderma.
  • The combination of PCR for the mecA gene and latex agglutination for PBP2a expression offers valuable insights into emerging antimicrobial resistance.
  • These molecular methods can enhance the understanding of resistance mechanisms in staphylococcal infections in dogs.

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