Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 30, 2026

Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR (RS-PCR)
08:51

Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus by Ribosomal Spacer PCR (RS-PCR)

Published on: November 4, 2016

Antimicrobial susceptibility of canine and human Staphylococcus aureus collected in Saskatoon, Canada

J E Rubin1, M Chirino-Trejo

  • 1Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada. joe.rubin@usask.ca

Zoonoses and Public Health
|August 10, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Staphylococcus aureus infections are rising in dogs and people, with methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) posing treatment challenges. Interspecies transmission highlights the need for combined human and canine surveillance of antimicrobial resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Staphylococcus aureus is a common human pathogen increasingly identified in canine infections.
  • Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) prevalence complicates treatment, with toxins like Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL) potentially contributing.
  • Genetic similarity between human and canine S. aureus suggests interspecies transmission and a shared population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate antimicrobial resistance patterns in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from both humans and dogs.
  • To assess the prevalence of specific resistance mechanisms and toxins in relation to MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA).
  • To inform surveillance strategies by understanding bidirectional transmission between species.

Main Methods:

  • Collected 126 S. aureus isolates from humans (n=99) and dogs (n=27).
  • Determined minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for 33 antimicrobials relevant to human and veterinary medicine.
  • Screened for Panton Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene and inducible clindamycin resistance.

Main Results:

  • No resistance observed to vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin, quinupristin/dalfopristin, or nitrofurantoin.
  • A broad range of resistance was found, with isolates resistant to 0-12 drugs across 0-6 drug classes.
  • Notable findings included a canine MRSA resistant to rifampin and a human MRSA resistant to chloramphenicol. Inducible clindamycin resistance was high in canine MRSA (78%).
  • PVL gene was absent in canine isolates but present in 39% of human MRSA and 2% of MSSA. Mupirocin resistance was only found in human isolates.

Conclusions:

  • Bidirectional transmission of S. aureus between humans and dogs is evident.
  • Antimicrobial resistance surveillance must include both human and canine isolates.
  • Understanding interspecies transmission is crucial for managing S. aureus infections and resistance.

More Related Videos

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria14:04

Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria

Published on: May 8, 2013

Quantifying the Cytotoxicity of Staphylococcus aureus Against Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes12:27

Quantifying the Cytotoxicity of Staphylococcus aureus Against Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocytes

Published on: January 3, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...
Staphylococcal Skin Infections01:29

Staphylococcal Skin Infections

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus that resides harmlessly on the skin and mucous membranes of healthy individuals. When the skin barrier is breached, it can shift from a commensal to an opportunistic pathogen. This transition is facilitated by surface adhesins, such as clumping factor B and S. aureus surface protein G (SasG), which bind to structural proteins, including loricrin and cytokeratin, in the damaged epidermis. Protein A, another key factor, binds the Fc region of...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...