title: Prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolated from clinical samples of companion animals and equidaes.
abstract: In this study the prevalence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) in clinical specimens of different animal species was defined by investigating a total of 16,103 clinical samples originating from veterinary facilities of five German federal states in 2007. Of all samples examined, 72 were positive for MRSP, giving an overall prevalence of 0.45%. In clinical specimens originating from small animals the prevalence was 0.58% (n=67; dogs n=61 and cats n=6), while samples from equidaes revealed a prevalence of 0.10% (n=5; horses n=4, donkey n=1). Forty-six representative phenotypically identified MRSP were further differentiated by DNA-based species assignment, PCR detection of mecA, SCCmec-typing and MIC determination. As expected, all 46 isolates were unambiguously proven to be MRSP by sequencing of housekeeping genes pta and cpn60 and being positive for mecA. Furthermore, all isolates harboured the mobile staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) SCCmecIII. Antibiotic susceptibility testing for 20 different conventional antimicrobial agents disclosed a high rate of multidrug-resistant isolates (45 of 46) displaying an identical or at least similar resistance pattern for non-beta-lactam antimicrobials. The recognized prevalence of MRSP, which have already been shown to be potential zoonotic agents, reflects the recently emerging development of these serious and often multidrug-resistant pathogens in Germany.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Free University Berlin, Philippstrasse 13, 10115 Berlin, Germany. ruscher.claudia@vetmed.fu-berlin.de
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruscher
authors.forename: Antina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lübke-Becker
authors.forename: Claus-G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Wleklinski
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Soba
authors.forename: Lothar H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wieler
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Walther
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002415:Cats; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D006736:Horses; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial