Molecular detection and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates from dogs in Portugal.
Fifty-four healthy dogs were screened in Portugal for the presence of nasal methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage. Sixteen MRSA isolates (one/sample) were recovered from nasal samples of dogs, and they were typed by molecular methods (S. aureus protein A [spa]-, multilocus sequence typing-, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec-typing). MRSA isolates were investigated for their susceptibility to antimicrobial agents by disk-diffusion test. The presence of resistance genes and of the Panton-Valentine leukocidin gene (lukF-lukS) was analyzed by PCR. Four different spa-types were identified among our MRSA isolates (t032, t432, t747, and t4726), with t032 as the most frequently detected. The sequence-type ST22 was identified in four tested MRSA isolates with different spa-types. All 16 isolates presented the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type IV. Most of MRSA isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and clindamycin (94%-100%), and no resistance was identified to chloramphenicol, mupirocin, and trimethoprim-sulfametoxazole. The ermC and tetM resistance genes were detected in all MRSA isolates. The amino acid changes Ser84Leu in GyrA protein and Ser80Phe in GrlA protein were the most prevalent ones in our MRSA isolates. None of the MRSA strains carried the lukF-lukS genes. The results presented in this study indicate that healthy dogs may be a reservoir of MRSA that could be transmitted to humans by direct contact.
Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
Céline
C
Coelho
Carmen
C
Torres
Hajer
H
Radhouani
Luís
L
Pinto
Carmen
C
Lozano
Elena
E
Gómez-Sanz
Myriam
M
Zaragaza
Gilberto
G
Igrejas
Patrícia
P
Poeta
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D027081:DNA Gyrase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004285:Dogs; D005098:Exotoxins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007956:Leukocidins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D058885:Multilocus Sequence Typing; D009154:Mutation; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011174:Portugal; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission / Q000662:veterinary*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D005098:Exotoxins; D007956:Leukocidins; C078284:Panton-Valentine leukocidin; C119204:streptococcal protective antigen; D027081:DNA Gyrase