Antimicrobial resistance of feline staphylococci in south-eastern England

Staphylococcus aureus is reported as the predominant feline staphylococcal pathogen. There is concern that cats may transfer resistant staphylococci to humans. In this study, staphylococci were obtained from skin and mucosae of 20 domestic cats, 9 with lesions, and 10 healthy feral cats. Species were identified by DNase and API ID32 Staph tests. Of 187 isolates, 21.4% were coagulase-positive and predominately from lesional cats; 90% of these were Staphylococcus intermedius . Coagulase-negative species were isolated equally in all three groups. All isolates were susceptible to coamoxiclav, cephalexin and bacitracin. Twenty-two, including 18 coagulase-negative isolates, showed some resistance to cotrimoxazole, lincomycin, enrofloxacin or oxytetracycline. Two isolates were resistant to more than one antibiotic. More resistant isolates were obtained from feral cats ( P < 0.01). The results suggest that S. intermedius is the principal coagulase-positive species. Antibiotic resistance is generally low amongst feline staphylococci. Higher resistance amongst feral cats suggests exposure to environmental antibiotics.     

Frequency and antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus species isolated from canine pyodermas

Specimens obtained from pyogenic skin lesions of 210 dogs were culturally examined for staphylococci. A total of 215 isolates of staphylococci were biotyped, using the biochemical tests contained in a commercial staphylococcal identification system. Of 201 coagulase-positive isolates, 197 were identified as Staphylococcus intermedius, 3 as S aureus, and 1 as S hyicus. Of 14 coagulase-negative isolates, 5 were identified as S epidermidis, 5 as S xylosus, 3 as S simulans, and 1 as S hominis. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were done on all staphylococcal isolates, using the standard disk-diffusion method. Staphylococcus intermedius isolates were susceptible to cephalothin, methicillin, and gentamicin. Resistance to ampicillin, penicillin G, and tetracycline was frequent. Antibiotic resistance was not associated with the depth of skin infection. Resistance to ampicillin, penicillin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was not associated with previous antibiotic use. Increased resistance to chloramphenicol, clindamycin, and erythromycin was associated with previous antibiotic therapy. Antimicrobial susceptibilities of the other Staphylococcus species isolated are reported, but the small numbers of these species precluded making meaningful comparison with S intermedius.     

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

OBJECTIVE: To determine the methicillin-resistant profile of staphylococcal isolates from the skin of dogs with pyoderma. ANIMALS: 90 dogs with pyoderma. PROCEDURE: Staphylococci isolated from dogs with pyoderma were tested for susceptibility to methicillin by use of a standard disk diffusion test with oxacillin disks. The DNA extracted from the isolates was tested for the mecA gene that encodes the penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) by use of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. The expression of PBP2a was determined with a commercial latex agglutination assay. Species of staphylococcal isolates were identified by use of morphologic, biochemical, and enzymatic tests. RESULTS: Most of the isolated staphylococci were methicillin-susceptible, coagulase-positive Staphylococcus intermedius isolates. Whereas only 2 of 57 S. intermedius isolates were resistant to methicillin, approximately half of the isolates had the mecA gene and produced PBP2a. Staphylococcus schleiferi was the second most common isolate. Widespread resistance to methicillin was found among S. schleiferi isolates. More coagulase-negative S. schleiferi isolates were identified with mecA gene-mediated resistance to methicillin, compared with coagulase-positive S. schleiferi isolates. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The latex agglutination assay for the detection of PBP2a expression coupled with the PCR assay for the mecA gene may provide new information about emerging antimicrobial resistance among staphylococcal isolates.     

Distribution of staphylococcal species on clinically healthy cats

Among 827 isolates derived from 113 clinically healthy cats, 12 species of staphylococci were identified. Staphylococci were isolated from each cat and from 54.9% of the anatomic sites evaluated. A mode of 6 (range = 2 to 11) of the 11 anatomic sites evaluated per cat yielded staphylococci. A mode of 8 (range = 2 to 12) isolates were found per cat. Staphylococcus simulans was the most isolated (43.9% of total) coagulase-negative species. Moreover, S simulans was the most isolated species from each of the 11 sites evaluated and, except for the mouth and haircoat, comprised greater than 50% of the isolates from each site. Staphylococcus intermedius was the most isolated (13.5% of the total) coagulase-positive species. Three other species (S epidermidis, S xylosus, and S aureus) comprised 32.2% of the isolates, and 7 species (S haemolyticus, S hominis, S hyicus, S capitis, S warneri, and S saprophyticus) comprised 10.4% of the isolates. Six species (S intermedius [96 of 112 isolates], S haemolyticus [20 of 22], S sciuri [17 of 18], S warneri [10 of 13], S hyicus [10 of 10], and S capitis [7 of 8]) were isolated primarily from household cats. Only 1 species, S xylosus (75 of 87), was isolated primarily from cattery cats. Haircoat specimens (n = 452) yielded 508 isolates (61.4% of the total) distributed among all 12 staphylococcal species and included greater than 50% of the isolates of all species other than S simulans and S sciuri. A more heterogeneous population of staphylococci was isolated from household cats than was isolated from cattery cats.     

Occurrence and species level diagnostics of Campylobacter spp., enteric Helicobacter spp. and Anaerobiospirillum spp. in healthy and diarrheic dogs and cats

In order to study the occurrence and co-infection of different species of Campylobacter, enteric Helicobacter and Anaerobiospirillum in dogs and cats and define a possible association between these microrganisms and gastrointestinal disorders, 190 dogs and 84 cats, either healthy or with diarrhea, were sampled between 2002 and 2003. Thirty-three C. upsaliensis, 17 C. jejuni, 2 C. helveticus, 1 C. lari isolates from dogs and 14 C. helveticus, 7 C. jejuni, 6 C. upsaliensis isolates from cats were identified using species-specific PCR and phenotypic tests. Whole cell protein profile analysis, phenotypic tests, PCR-RFLP of gyrB and a phylogenetic study of partial groEL and 16S rRNA sequences were used to identify 37 H. bilis, 22 H. canis and 14 H. cinaedi in dogs and 12 H. canis, 5 H. bilis and 2 H. cinaedi in cats. Whole cell protein profile analysis, phenotypic tests and species-specific PCR of 16S rRNA were used to identify 14 A. succiniciproducens, 12 A. thomasii isolates and one unidentified Anaerobiospirillum sp. isolate in dogs and 3 A. thomasii isolates in cats. Fifty-two animals (19%) were positive for the isolation of more than one genus. No significant statistical correlation was found between any isolates of Campylobacter, Helicobacter or Anaerobiospirillum spp. or the various co-infection rates, and the presence of diarrhea in either dogs or cats. Campylobacter isolates were also tested for antibiotic resistance using the agar dilution method.     

Staphylococci in canine urolithiasis: species identification, using a commercially available tray micromethod

Fifty-one coagulase-positive staphylococcal isolates from canine urinary calculi or from the urine of dogs with documented urolithiasis, and 17 coagulase-positive staphylococcal isolates from human beings and cattle were identified by a commercially available tray micromethod, as well as by conventional methods. Canine isolates had previously been classified as Staphylococcus aureus on the basis of a positive tube coagulase test. After 5 hours' incubation, the tray method identified all 51 canine urolithiasis isolates as S intermedius, rather than S aureus. All human and bovine isolates were identified as S aureus. Conventional methods supported these findings.     

Surveillance of healthy cats and cats with inflammatory skin disease for colonization of the skin by methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci and Staphylococcus schleiferi ssp. schleiferi

In this study, bacterial cultures were collected from five sites on each of 50 healthy cats and 48 cats with inflammatory skin disease (ISD), to determine prevalence of carriage and relative frequency of methicillin resistance in coagulase-positive staphylococci and Staphylococcus schleiferi ssp. schleiferi. Latex agglutination testing for penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were performed on all methicillin-resistant (MR) isolates. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the mecA gene was performed on MR S. intermedius and S. schleiferi isolates. Staphylococcal chromosomal cassette (SCCmec) typing was performed on all MR S. aureus isolates. Coagulase-positive staphylococci and S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi were isolated from 24 of 48 cats with ISD: Staphylococcus aureus (14 of 24, 58%), Staphylococcus intermedius (11 of 24, 46%), Staphylococcus schleiferi ssp. schleiferi (1 of 24, 4%), and Staphylococcus hyicus (1 of 24, 4%). Prevalence of MR was 7% for S. aureus, 0% for S. intermedius, 100% for S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi, and 0% for S. hyicus. Coagulase-positive staphylococci were isolated from 17 of 50 healthy cats: S. aureus (10 of 17, 59%), S. intermedius (11 of 17, 65%), and S. schleiferi ssp. coagulans (1 of 17, 6%). Prevalence of MR was 20% for S. aureus, 18% for S. intermedius, and 0% for S. schleiferi ssp. coagulans. All MR isolates were positive for PBP2a via latex agglutination. Methicillin-resistant S. intermedius and S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi isolates were also positive for the mecA gene via PCR. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were identified as SCCmec type II. Results of PFGE indicated heterogeneity among isolates. There was no significant difference in staphylococcal isolation or methicillin resistance between study groups. While present, MR coagulase-positive staphylococci are significantly less common in these study populations.     

Staphylococcal colonization of mucosal and lesional skin sites in atopic and healthy dogs

Staphylococcal colonization was compared in healthy dogs and in dogs with atopic dermatitis. Bacterial swabs were collected from the nasal mucosa, ear and perineum of 43 healthy and 24 atopic dogs and also from potentially infected skin lesions of the atopic dogs. Coagulase positive staphylococcal isolates were identified to the species level. At the time of this study Staphylococcus intermedius was considered a single species but has since been recognized as comprising at least three species with canine isolates believed to belong to Staphylococcus pseudintermedius . Of atopic dogs, 87.5% were colonized with S. intermedius compared to only 37.2% of healthy dogs. The ear was the only carriage site that showed any significant difference in S. intermedius isolation between healthy and atopic dogs. The perineum represented the most frequently colonized mucosal site for both groups. Sampling the nasal mucosa alone identified 71.4% of atopic and 37.5% of healthy S. intermedius carriers. Inclusion of a perineal swab identified 100% of atopic and 93.8% of healthy carriers. S. intermedius was isolated from all the lesional sites sampled from atopic dogs. Significantly fewer dogs were colonized by Staphylococcus aureus than S. intermedius , and there was no significant difference between S. aureus colonization of atopic and healthy dogs. S. aureus was not recovered from any lesions in atopic dogs. The results show that S. intermedius carriage is more prevalent in atopic dogs compared to healthy dogs and that to identify staphylococcal carriers both the nasal mucosa and the perineum should be sampled.     

Clinical, microbiological, and molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections of cats

OBJECTIVE: To compare clinical information obtained from medical records of cats with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S aureus (MSSA) infections, evaluate antibiograms of MRSA and MSSA for multiple-drug resistance (MDR), and characterize the strain type and staphylococcal chromosome cassette (SCC)mec type of each MRSA. SAMPLE POPULATION: 70 S aureus isolates obtained from 46 cats. PROCEDURES: Clinical information obtained from medical records, including signalment, clinical signs, histologic examination of affected tissues, and outcomes, was compared between the 2 groups. Composite antibiograms of MRSA and MSSA were compared statistically. The MRSA strains were characterized by use of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and SCCmec typing. RESULTS: No statistical differences in signalment or subjective differences in clinical signs or outcomes were detected between groups with MRSA or MSSA infection. Significant differences in antimicrobial resistance were detected, with MRSA having complete resistance to fluoroquinolone and macrolide antimicrobials, whereas MSSA maintained a high frequency of susceptibility. Seven pulsed-field patterns were observed in 15 MRSA strains; all but 1 were highly related. All MRSA isolates contained a type II SCCmec element. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Because MDR cannot be predicted in staphylococcal infections in cats on the basis of clinical signalment, culture and susceptibility testing are recommended whenever initial empirical treatment is unsuccessful. Molecular characterization of MRSA strains suggests that there has been reverse-zoonotic transmission from humans. IMPACT FOR HUMAN MEDICINE: The SCCmec type II element is typically associated with nosocomial MRSA infections of people. Cats may serve as reservoirs for MRSA infections in humans.     

Detection of Campylobacter upsaliensis in diarrheic dogs and cats, using a selective medium with cefoperazone.

Using a newly formulated selective medium containing cefoperazone, we isolated 72 Campylobacter strains in fecal samples from 397 diarrheic dogs and cats. Of these, 39 were thermophilic catalase-negative Campylobacter species. We identified these Campylobacter strains by DNA:DNA hybridization, using digoxigenin-labeled total genomic DNA of 4 Campylobacter reference strains (C jejuni, C coli, C lari, and C upsaliensis) as a probe. The labeling was done with a commercially available kit. We could identify 66 of the 72 Campylobacter isolates to the species level with this method; identification with probes always agreed with conventional test results. Of the 66 identified strains, 33 were C upsaliensis and 33 were C jejuni. Six isolates could not be assigned to a known species with probes or conventional tests. On the basis of our findings, C upsaliensis is more resistant to cefoperazone than to cephalothin, thereby explaining the unexpected recovery of these campylobacters on cephalosporin-containing media.     

Staphylococcosis of turkeys. 2. Assay of protein A levels of staphylococci isolated from turkeys

Ninety-eight Staphylococcus aureus isolates and 227 coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates from turkeys were assayed for protein A content. The amount of protein A of each isolate was quantitated using a direct enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of the S. aureus isolates, 83% possessed some protein A, whereas only 13% of the coagulase-negative staphylococci contained some protein A. No correlation was seen between protein A content and ability to adhere to turkey cells. No differences in virulence were seen between isolates of S. aureus possessing high or low levels of protein A; however, an isolate with no protein A was avirulent.     

Molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains from pet animals and veterinary staff in China

The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from pet animals and veterinary staff and the characteristics of these isolates. A total of 22 MRSA isolates were isolated from nasal swabs from dogs, cats and veterinary staff in six pet hospitals in six cities, and examined for antimicrobial susceptibility, the presence of resistance genes, Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene lukF-lukS, staphylococcal chromosomal cassette (SCC) mec typing, spa tying, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing. Of 22 MRSA isolates, 21 were recovered from pet animals, and one was isolated from a member of sstaff. All 22 MRSA strains were resistant to penicillin, oxacillin, azithromycin, clindamycin and ceftriaxone, and harboured mecA, ermB and linA genes. The lukF-lukS gene was not detected in any of the MRSA isolates. Eighteen MRSA strains from Qingdao belonged to ST59-MRSA-IV-spa t437. Of four MRSA isolates from Beijing, one belonged to ST398-MRSA-V-spa t034, and three belonged to ST239-MRSA-III-spa t030 profiles. Two PFGE types (A and B) were identified. Two isolates originating from dogs and one isolate originating from a staff member in Beijing shared similar PFGE patterns. Our cumulative data suggested that cross-transmission of MRSA may have occurred between pet animals and veterinary staff.     

Genotypic relatedness of staphylococcal strains isolated from pustules and carriage sites in dogs with superficial bacterial folliculitis

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether staphylococcal isolates cultured from pustules and carriage sites in dogs with superficial bacterial folliculitis were genotypically the same strain by use of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). ANIMALS: 40 dogs with superficial bacterial folliculitis. PROCEDURES: Samples were obtained from 3 pustules and 3 carriage sites (anus, axillary skin, and nasal mucosa). Bacterial culture, morphologic identification, Gram staining, catalase and coagulase tests, speciation, and PFGE were performed. RESULTS: Of 246 isolates, 203 were Staphylococcus intermedius, 5 were Staphylococcus aureus, 15 were Staphylococcusspp, and 22 were coagulase-negative staphylococcal isolates. No dog had an isolate with the same PFGE pattern as an isolate from another dog. Coagulase-positive isolates from multiple pustules and multiple carriage sites had the same PFGE pattern in 37 of 39 (94.9%) and 22 of 39 (56.4%) dogs, respectively. Coagulase-positive staphylococcal isolates from at least 1 pustule had the same PFGE pattern as an isolate from at least 1 carriage site in 34 of 36 (94.4%) dogs. Ninety-seven of 116 (83.6%) coagulase-positive staphylococcal isolates from pustules had the same PFGE pattern as an isolate from at least 1 carriage site. Sixty-nine of 91 (75.8%) coagulase-positive staphylococcal isolates from carriage sites had the same PFGE pattern as an isolate from at least 1 pustule. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Coagulasepositive staphylococcal strains were heterogeneous among dogs with superficial bacterial folliculitis. In individual dogs, strains from multiple pustules were genotypically the same, and strains from pustules were genotypically the same as strains from carriage sites.     

Screening for skin carriage of methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci and Staphylococcus schleiferi in dogs with healthy and inflamed skin

Methicillin resistance rates of 41% for Staphylococcus aureus, 16% for S. intermedius, and 40% for S. schleiferi have recently been reported in canine patients. These were deemed to be reflective of referral and clinician-selection biases, which would imply significantly lower methicillin-resistant staphylococcal carriage rates in less-biased canine populations. In this study, swabs for bacterial culture were collected from five cutaneous sites on each of 50 healthy dogs and 59 dogs with inflammatory skin disease to determine prevalence of carriage and relative frequency of methicillin resistance in coagulase-positive staphylococci and S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi. These were identified morphologically and by Gram's staining, catalase and coagulase testing, and biochemical speciation. Coagulase-positive staphylococci and S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi were isolated from 88% (52 of 59) of affected dogs. Species identified in the culture-positive dogs were: S. aureus in 12%, S. intermedius (92%), S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi (10%), and S. schleiferi ssp. coagulans (10%) with methicillin resistance rates of 17%, 8%, 20% and 20%, respectively. Coagulase-positive staphylococci were isolated from 74% (37 of 50) of healthy dogs: S. aureus (16%), S. intermedius (92%) and S. schleiferi ssp. coagulans (5%). Methicillin resistance rates were 0%, 3% and 50%, respectively. Of total methicillin-resistant isolates, 11 of 13 were positive for PBP2a via latex agglutination. Methicillin-resistant S. intermedius and S. schleiferi ssp. schleiferi isolates were all positive for the mecA gene via PCR. There was no significant difference in staphylococcal isolation or methicillin resistance between study groups. While present, methicillin-resistant coagulase-positive staphylococci are significantly less common in these less-biased populations than in the clinical isolates previously reported from this institution which provided the impetus for this study.     

Investigation of the antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from gangrenous mastitis of ewes

In this study, Staphylococcus aureus strains (n = 110) isolated from seven ewe flocks in Sanliurfa, Turkey were screened for antibiotic resistance and biofilmforming ability as well as for genes associated with antibiotic resistance and biofilm-forming ability. All isolates were found to be susceptible to oxacillin, gentamicin, clindamycin, cefoxitin, tetracycline, vancomycin, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, ciprofloxacin and sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim. The percent proportions of strains resistant to penicillin G, ampicillin and erythromycin were 27.2% (n = 30), 25.4% (n = 28) and 6.3% (n = 7), respectively. Regarding the antibiotic resistance genes, 32 (29%) isolates carried the blaZ and 8 (7.2%) the ermC gene. Other resistance genes were not detected in the isolates. All isolates showed biofilm-forming ability on Congo red agar (CRA), while 108 (98.18%) and 101 (91.81%) of them were identified as biofilm producers by the use of standard tube (ST) and microplate (MP) methods, respectively. All isolates carried the icaA and icaD genes but none of them harboured the bap gene. The results demonstrated that S. aureus isolates from gangrenous mastitis were mainly resistant to penicillins (which are susceptible to the staphylococcal beta-lactamase enzyme), and less frequently to erythromycin. Furthermore, all of the S. aureus isolates produced biofilm which was considered a potential virulence factor in the pathogenesis of staphylococcal mastitis.     

Investigations on the efficacy of routinely used phenotypic methods compared to genotypic approaches for the identification of staphylococcal species isolated from companion animals in Irish veterinary hospitals

Background

Identification of Staphylococci to species level in veterinary microbiology is important to inform therapeutic intervention and management. We report on the efficacy of three routinely used commercial phenotypic methods for staphylococcal species identification, namely API Staph 32 (bioMérieux), RapID (Remel) and Staph-Zym (Rosco Diagnostica) compared to genotyping as a reference method to identify 52 staphylococcal clinical isolates (23 coagulase positive; 29 coagulase negative) from companion animals in Irish veterinary hospitals.

Results

Genotyping of a 412 bp fragment of the staphylococcal tuf gene and coagulase testing were carried out on all 52 veterinary samples along with 7 reference strains. In addition, genotyping of the staphylococcal rpoB gene, as well as PCR-RFLP of the pta gene, were performed to definitively identify members of the Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG). The API Staph 32 correctly identified all S. aureus isolates (11/11), 83% (10/12) of the SIG species, and 66% (19/29) of the coagulase negative species. RapID and Staph-Zym correctly identified 61% (14/23) and 0% (0/23) respectively of the coagulase-positives, and 10% (3/29) and 3% (1/29) respectively of the coagulase-negative species.

Conclusions

Commercially available phenotypic species identification tests are inadequate for the correct identification of both coagulase negative and coagulase positive staphylococcal species from companion animals. Genotyping using the tuf gene sequence is superior to phenotyping for identification of staphylococcal species of animal origin. However, use of PCR-RFLP of pta gene or rpoB sequencing is recommended as a confirmatory method for discriminating between SIG isolates.     

Persistence of staphylococcal species and genotypes in the bovine udder

Staphylococci are a major cause of intramammary infections (IMI) in ruminants. The main aim of this study was to investigate staphylococcal IMI in dairy cattle with emphasis on persistence and distribution of staphylococcal species and genotypes. With a sampling interval of 4-8 weeks, over a year, 4030 samples from 206 cows in 4 herds were collected. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) and Staphylococcus aureus were detected in 13.2% and 4.2% of the samples, respectively. Selected CNS isolates from quarter milk samples were identified to species level using sodA sequencing. Staphylococcus chromogenes (32%) and Staphylococcus simulans (25%) predominated. The proportion of S. chromogenes was greater in primiparous (52%) than in multiparous cows (12%), while the opposite was the case for Staphylococcus epidermidis (6% and 21%, respectively). Isolates from possibly persistent IMI were selected for pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Six staphylococcal species were found to cause persistent IMI; S. aureus, S. chromogenes, S. simulans, S. epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus and Staphylococcus warneri. It was shown that several pulsotypes (PTs) within each species were associated with persistent infections, but only a few were spread and caused persistent IMI in multiple cows within a herd. Of special interest was the observation that only one, or a few, strains of each species caused persistent IMI in multiple cows within a same herd. This indicates strain differences with respect to transmissibility and pathogenicity.     

Molecular detection of a Hepatozoon species in stray cats from a feline colony in North-eastern Spain

Within the framework of a local animal health programme, the presence of ectoparasites and haemoparasites was investigated in a colony of 25 cats in Barcelona. Diagnosis was performed both by standard parasitological procedures and molecular techniques. All cats were negative to haematozoan infection by microscopic examination of blood smears. However, Hepatozoon spp. was found in four cats as shown by amplification and sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene. Cat isolates were 100% identical to the isolate Hepatozoon spp. (Spain 2) from Southern Spain. This is the first time that Hepatozoon spp. has been identified in cats from Northern Spain.     

Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from healthy horses in Japan

OBJECTIVE: To determine patterns of methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolated from apparently healthy horses. SAMPLE POPULATION: 44 horses from 8 riding clubs in Japan. PROCEDURE: Methicill in-resistant staphylococci were isolated from the skin or nares, using a selective medium containing a beta-(symboric) lactam antibiotic, ceftizoxime. Clonality of isolates was determined by use of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Detection of mecA, mecl, and mecR1 genes was accomplished by use of polymerase chain reactions. RESULT: Of the 44 horses, 13 (29.5%) yielded 15 isolates of methicillin-resistant staphylococci. The 15 isolates were identified as 6 species (Staphylococcus epidermidis, S lentus, S saprophyticus, S xylosus, S sciuri, and S haemolyticus). However, methicillin-resistant S aureus was seldom isolated. Each isolate contained the mecA gene and had a high resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics. Some isolates also were resistant to other antibiotics such as erythromycin and kanamycin. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci that were highly resistant to various antibiotics were isolated from apparently healthy horses in Japan. These organisms must be considered a potential threat to horses and veterinarians who care for them.     

Tetracycline resistance in staphylococci from free-living rodents and insectivores

One hundred and fifty-eight staphylococcal strains isolated from wild rodents and insectivores were analysed for plasmid-borne resistance to tetracycline (Tc). Only 10 isolates, six Staphylococcus saprophyticus isolates and single isolates of S. xylosus, S. equorum, S. warneri and S. cohnii subsp. cohnii carried a Tc resistance plasmid of approximately 4.4 kb as confirmed by protoplast transformation. All 10 plasmids harboured a Tc resistance gene of hybridization class K [tet(K)] as confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The plasmid was assigned to the pT181 family as it revealed a high degree of restriction map homology to pT181 and other members of this family. Macrorestriction analysis with the enzyme SmaI showed that three of the six isolates identified as S. saprophyticus shared the same pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern.