Occurrence and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Staphylococcus spp. Strains Isolated From Healthy Stray Dogs

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Microbiology
• Antimicrobial Resistance
• One Health

Background:

• Stray dogs are often overlooked as potential reservoirs for zoonotic pathogens.
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in animal populations poses a significant public health risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus species in stray dogs.
• To assess the multidrug-resistance profiles of isolated staphylococci.

Main Methods:

• Swabs from stray dogs were cultured for Staphylococcus spp. isolation.
• MALDI-TOF MS was used for bacterial identification.
• Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.

Main Results:

• Staphylococcus spp. were found in 46% of isolates, with S. pseudintermedius being most common.
• High rates of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. were detected (e.g., 72.3% resistance to cefoxitin).
• 85% of isolates were multidrug-resistant, resistant to three or more antimicrobial classes.

Conclusions:

• Stray dogs act as significant reservoirs for multidrug-resistant staphylococci.
• Continuous AMR surveillance in stray dog populations is crucial for public health.
• The One Health approach is essential for managing AMR transmission between animals and humans.