title: Interspecies spread of Staphylococcus aureus clones among companion animals and human close contacts in a veterinary teaching hospital. A cross-sectional study in Greece.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) prevalence among companion animals and veterinary personnel (VP) was investigated. Strains' molecular characteristics were evaluated in order to assess S. aureus transmission. Specimens (224) from colonized and infected sites of 102 animals (92 dogs, 10 cats) and 18 VP were collected during 2012 and 2013. Antibiotic susceptibility was performed by the disk diffusion method and Etest. mecA, mecC, tst (toxic shock syndrome toxin) and lukF/lukS-PV (Panton-Valentine leukocidin, PVL) genes were investigated by PCR. Genotypes were identified by Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST), Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec), accessory gene regulator group (agr), spa and Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). S. aureus prevalence among pets and VP was 36.3% (37/102) and 38.9% (7/18), respectively. Younger companion animals, those living in rural areas, having a disease upon admission or Coagulase-negative staphylococci co-carriage showed significantly higher prevalence of S. aureus isolation (p<0.05). Twenty-six pets and five VP carried PVL-positive S. aureus. In total, 60 S. aureus strains were recovered (53 from pets, seven from VP) of which 16 were MRSA (26.7%), 12 mecA- and four mecC-positive. MRSA showed higher resistance rates against other antimicrobials as compared to methicillin-susceptible ones. Strains were classified by MLST in 13 STs, with the predominance of ST80 and ST15. In MRSA, SCCmec types II, IV and XI were identified. The most frequent spa types were t5559 and t7558. Fifty-six strains were classified into 15 PFGE types. Comparison of genetic markers shows that identical or very similar strains disseminate among animals and VP. Companion animals harbor PVL-positive clones constituting a possible source for transmission to humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece; National Reference Laboratory for Staphylococci, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleanna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Drougka
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece; National Reference Laboratory for Staphylococci, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Antigoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Foka
authors.affiliation: Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, St. Voutyra 11, 546 27 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Koutinas
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jelastopulu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece; National Reference Laboratory for Staphylococci, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Giormezis
authors.affiliation: Companion Animal Clinic, School of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, St. Voutyra 11, 546 27 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Ourania
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Farmaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Thessalia, Biopolis, 41222 Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Styliani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarrou
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece; National Reference Laboratory for Staphylococci, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Evangelos D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Anastassiou
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Thessalia, Biopolis, 41222 Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Efthimia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petinaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece; National Reference Laboratory for Staphylococci, University of Patras, Rion, 26504 Patras, Greece. Electronic address: spiliopl@upatras.gr.
authors.forename: Iris
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Spiliopoulou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D002415:Cats; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006762:Hospitals, Animal; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D057805:Pets / Q000382:microbiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission* / Q000662:veterinary; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Clones; Companion animals; Epidemiology; Greece; MRSA; PVL; Staphylococcus aureus