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Updated: Aug 23, 2025
Biosensor for Detection of Antibiotic Resistant Staphylococcus Bacteria
Published on: May 8, 2013
Detection of the international lineage ST71 of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in two cities in
Bruno Penna1,2, Marcella B Silva3,4, Ana M N Botelho5
1Laboratório de Cocos Gram Positivos, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niteroi, Brazil. bpenna@id.uff.br.
Abstract:
Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is the main coagulase-positive staphylococci associated with canine skin/soft tissue infections (SSTI), otitis externa, and surgical site infections. The international spread of an epidemic and multiresistant lineage of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP), the so-called European clone-displaying sequence type (ST) 71-requires attention. The first isolation of an MRSP ST71 isolate in South America was reported in Rio de Janeiro city, in 2010; however, a limited number of canine isolates were analyzed. Thus, to have a better panel of the MRSP spread in this city, we were stimulated to continue this study and search for the presence of MRSP in 282 colonized or infected dogs in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Among the MRSP isolates collected (N = 17; 6.1%), the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns were similar to those of European clone. All 17 isolates were classified as ST71 by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). In order to assess whether isolates of MRSP ST71 may have also spread to the Rio de Janeiro state countryside, we collected samples from 124 infected dogs in the city of Campos dos Goytacazes (232 km away from Rio de Janeiro city). Our data showed the presence of ST71 lineage in one isolate among three MRSP detected. S. pseudintermedius was isolated from 40.6% of the clinical samples (N = 165/406). A relatively high incidence of methicillin resistance, detected by a PCR-based method, was found in 12.1% of the S. pseudintermedius recovered from animals (N = 20/165). The resistance profile of these isolates was similar to that described for the international ST71 strains whose genomes are publicly available in the GenBank. The prospect of ST71 isolates being resistant to virtually all antimicrobials used in veterinary medicine is alarming and should be considered a central issue considering that MRSP ST71 spreads over large geographic distances and its transmission from animals to humans.
Insights
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) ST71, a multidrug-resistant strain, has spread to dogs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This alarming finding highlights the need for surveillance due to potential transmission to humans.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Antimicrobial Resistance
Background:
- Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a primary cause of bacterial infections in dogs.
- Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP), particularly the ST71 lineage (European clone), is a growing global concern due to its multidrug resistance.
- The presence of MRSP ST71 in South America was previously limited, with initial reports from Rio de Janeiro city in 2010.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and spread of MRSP ST71 in dogs within Rio de Janeiro city and its surrounding countryside.
- To characterize the antimicrobial resistance profiles of detected MRSP isolates.
- To assess the potential for MRSP ST71 transmission from dogs to humans.
Main Methods:
- Collection and analysis of clinical samples from colonized or infected dogs in Rio de Janeiro city and Campos dos Goytacazes.
- Identification of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and detection of methicillin resistance using PCR.
- Molecular typing of MRSP isolates using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to confirm ST71 lineage.
Main Results:
- MRSP was detected in 6.1% of dogs in Rio de Janeiro city (17/282), with all isolates identified as ST71 and exhibiting PFGE patterns similar to the European clone.
- The ST71 lineage was also identified in one MRSP isolate from Campos dos Goytacazes, indicating spread to the state's countryside.
- Overall, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was found in 40.6% of samples, with 12.1% of these isolates exhibiting methicillin resistance.
Conclusions:
- The multidrug-resistant MRSP ST71 lineage has established a presence and spread among dogs in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- The resistance profiles of these Brazilian MRSP ST71 isolates are consistent with international strains.
- The findings underscore the urgent need for surveillance and control measures to prevent further dissemination and potential zoonotic transmission of MRSP ST71.
