Title: First study on the antibiogram and virulence genes of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius colonizing shelter dogs and dog owners in Abakaliki, Nigeria

Biography:

Department of Applied Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ebonyi State University, P. M. B. 053 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria.Moses IB, Journal of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems.

Abstract

Background: The increase in antibiotic-resistant staphylococci among pets and its transfer to humans threaten veterinary medicine and public health. This study was designed to determine the antibiotic resistance patterns and the prevalence of virulence genes among S. pseudintermedius obtained from dogs and dog owners in Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Methods: Exactly 112 swab samples (perineum, nares, and mouth) were obtained from shelter dogs while nasal swabs of 97 dog owners and 150 non-dog owners were collected. Swab samples were processed and isolates were identified using standard microbiological procedures. MIC was determined by broth micro-dilution using the sensititre system. Isolates were screened for sec, siet, exi, and lukD virulence genes by PCR.

Results: A total of 99 S. pseudintermedius isolates [86 (76.8 %) from dogs and 13 (13.4 %) from dog owners] were obtained, out of which 52 (52.5 %) were identified as MRSP strains. No S. pseudintermedius isolate was recovered from non-dog owners. Isolates were highly resistant to penicillin (100 %) and ampicillin (94.2 %). Equal resistance frequency (51.2 %) was each observed for fluoroquinolones, clindamycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and erythromycin. Isolates also exhibited resistance to gentamycin (46.5 %), chloramphenicol (23.1 %), tetracycline (19.8 %), and tigecycline (8.1 %). Isolates harboured sec (73.7 %), exi (2 %), siet (62.6 %), and lukD (55.6 %) virulence genes. 

Conclusion: S. pseudintermedius isolates, including MRSP strains in this study were multi-drug resistant and notably more resistant than those reported in literature. Sec, exi, siet, and lukD virulence genes were haboured by the isolates. There was phenotypic homogeneity in the antibiogram of isolates from dogs and their owners, thus depicting a possible zoonotic transmission. The ability of S. pseudintermedius to cause human infections highlights its lack of host specificity and the importance of considering inter-species transmission.