title: Epidemiology of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in guide dogs in Finland.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) and Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are common multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria in dogs. In 2012-2013 three dogs of the Guide Dog School of the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired were found to be MRSP positive. Guide dogs have regular contact with each other during their first year of life and prolonged contact when in training. Since dogs are placed in different parts of Finland after training, there is a risk for national spread of MDR bacteria. In this study the prevalence of MRSP and MRSA, as well as the risk factors for MRSP were determined in the Finnish guide dog population. MRSP isolates were investigated using molecular methods and compared to the earlier isolates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 132 tested dogs 4 were MRSP positive thus giving the prevalence estimate of 3% (95% CI: 1-8%) for MRSP in the target population. MRSA was not detected (prevalence estimate 0%, 95% CI: 0-3%). Risk factors associated with MRSP were being a breeding bitch (OR = 8.4; 95% CI: 1.1-64.1, P = 0.012), the number of veterinary visits (OR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.0-1.5, P = 0.025) and number of antimicrobial courses (OR = 1.63; 95% CI: 1.0-2.55; P = 0.035). Identified MRSP isolates belonged to five different sequence types (ST45, 71, 402, 403 and 404). All ST71 isolates carried SCCmec II-III, while the SCCmec type of the ST45 and ST402 (a single locus variant of ST45) isolates were non-typeable with the method used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRSP and MRSA had low prevalence in the studied dog population despite the close contact between dogs, and the MRSP population was heterogenic. Antimicrobial therapy and veterinary visits are risk factors for MRSP even among a small case group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. thomas.gronthal@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Grönthal
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. matti.ollilainen@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ollilainen
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. marjut.eklund@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Marjut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eklund
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. heli.piiparinen@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Heli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Piiparinen
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. gindonisv@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Veera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gindonis
authors.affiliation: 4Pharma Ltd., Ahventie 4, 02170, Espoo, Finland. jouni.junnila@4pharma.com.
authors.forename: Jouni
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Junnila
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. leena.saijonmaa@pp.inet.fi.
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Saijonmaa-Koulumies
authors.affiliation: Guide Dog School of the Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired, Siltaniitynkuja 1, 01260, Vantaa, Finland. riitta.liimatainen@opaskoirakoulu.fi.
authors.forename: Riitta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liimatainen
authors.affiliation: Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 57, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. merja.rantala@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Merja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rantala
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008712:Methicillin