title: Prevalence, species distribution and antimicrobial resistance patterns of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in Lithuanian pet animals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The bacterial genus Staphylococcus consists of many species that causes infections in pet animals. Antimicrobial resistant staphylococci cause infections that are difficult to treat and they are important from the point of one health perspective. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRS) species, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in diseased pet animals (Group A) and kennel dogs (Group B) in Lithuania and to characterize the isolates according to their antimicrobial resistance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one MRS isolates were obtained from 395 clinical samples (5.3 %; CI 95 % 3.5-8.0) of Group A animals. Sixteen, four and one isolates were from dogs, cats and a pet rabbit, respectively. The mecA gene was present in 20 isolates, whereas one isolate was positive for the mecC gene. Twenty-one MRS isolates (20.0 %; CI 95 % 13.5-28.6) were obtained from the vagina of female dogs (n = 105) (Group B). All isolates carried the mecA gene. Twelve MRS species were isolated of which S. pseudintermedius was the most common (18/42) followed by S. haemolyticus (8/42) and S. lentus (4/42). MRSA was not found. All MRS strains were susceptible to vancomycin, linezolid, daptomycin and quinupristin/dalfopristin. Resistance to tetracycline (16/21), clindamycin (15/21) and erythromycin (14/21) was the most common types of resistance in Group A animals. Three isolates also demonstrated resistance to rifampin. Resistance toward gentamicin (16/21), ciprofloxacin (15/21), macrolides (15/21) and tetracycline (12/21) was the most common in kennel dogs (Group B). The most common genes encoding resistance to antimicrobials (excluding beta-lactams) in isolates from Group A pets were tetK (21/42), aph(3')-IIIa (11/42) and aac(6')-Ie-aph(2'')-Ia (9/42).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A wide range of MRS species were found in pet animals in Lithuania. MRSA was not found.
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Virology Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Veterinary Academy, Mickeviciaus g. 9, LT44307, Kaunas, Lithuania. ruzauskas@lva.lt.
authors.forename: Modestas
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruzauskas
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Antimicrobial and Biocide Resistance, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal. natachacouto@fmv.utl.pt.
authors.forename: Natacha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Couto
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Physics and Biophysics, Veterinary Academy, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Mickeviciaus g. 9, LT44307, Kaunas, Lithuania. sigita@lva.lt.
authors.forename: Sigita
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kerziene
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Virology Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Veterinary Academy, Mickeviciaus g. 9, LT44307, Kaunas, Lithuania. siugzdiniene@lva.lt.
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Siugzdiniene
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Virology Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Veterinary Academy, Mickeviciaus g. 9, LT44307, Kaunas, Lithuania. klimiene@lva.lt.
authors.forename: Irena
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Klimiene
authors.affiliation: Microbiology and Virology Institute, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Veterinary Academy, Mickeviciaus g. 9, LT44307, Kaunas, Lithuania. marius.virgailis@lsmuni.lt.
authors.forename: Marius
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Virgailis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Antimicrobial and Biocide Resistance, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Lisbon, Avenida da Universidade Técnica, 1300-477, Lisbon, Portugal. cpomba@fmv.ulisboa.pt.
authors.forename: Constança
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pomba
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002415:Cats; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D008097:Lithuania / Q000453:epidemiology; D016106:Methicillin Resistance / Q000187:drug effects*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D011817:Rabbits; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents