title: Partial nucleotide sequencing of the mecA genes of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from cats and dogs.
abstract: Methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS) pose a challenge to clinicians and health administrators in human medicine, but MRS infections in cats and dogs are not perceived as a problem in veterinary medicine. Ten methicillin-resistant staphylococcal isolates obtained from healthy and diseased cats and dogs were subjected to partial DNA sequencing of the mecA gene. Sequence analysis shows that MRS isolates from both healthy and diseased cats and dogs can harbor the mecA gene. The mecA genes of animal isolates were identical to that found in human MRS strains, and therefore the possibility of zoonotic transfer must be considered.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia.
authors.forename: Seidu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malik
authors.forename: Haihong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Mary D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D001483:Base Sequence; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats / Q000382:microbiology; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs / Q000382:microbiology; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000235:genetics*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D046915:Penicillin-Binding Proteins; C487789:mecA protein, Staphylococcus aureus