Genetic characterisation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in pets and veterinary personnel in Iran: new insights into emerging methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP)

• Published in: Journal of global antimicrobial resistance. 2019-03, Vol.16, p.6-10
• Main Authors: Tabatabaei, Saeid, Najafifar, Arash, Askari Badouei, Mahdi, Zahraei Salehi, Taghi, Ashrafi Tamai, Iradj, Khaksar, Ehsan, Abbassi, Mohamed Salah, Ghazisaeedi, Fereshteh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Cats; Dogs; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial - genetics; Hospitals, Veterans; Humans; Iran - epidemiology; Methicillin Resistance; Methicillin-resistant staphylococci; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - genetics; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - pathogenicity; MRSA; MRSP; Pets - microbiology; Resistance; SCCmec; Staphylococcal Infections - epidemiology; Staphylococcal Infections - veterinary; Staphylococcus - genetics; Staphylococcus - pathogenicity; Veterinarians; Virulence
• ISSN: 2213-7165; 2213-7173
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2018.08.022

•Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) in Iran were investigated.•4 MRSA (from 2 veterinarians and 2 dogs) and 19 MRSP (from 12 dogs and 7 cats) were investigated.•SCCmec type II and three spa types (t186, t1816 and t10897) were identified in MRSA isolates.•MRSP isolates contained SCCmec II (2 isolates) and V (10 isolates); 7 isolates were untypeable and contained class C1 mec.•Pets and veterinarians could be potential sources of multidrug-resistant MRSA and MRSP strains in Iran. Methicillin-resistant staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP), pose a threat to animal and human health worldwide. Veterinary staff and pets may play a role in the spread of resistant clones. A total of 125 samples from veterinary staff (n=50), dogs (n=49) and cats (n=26) were investigated. Obtained isolates were tested for the methicillin resistance gene mecA and were subjected to multiplex PCR to differentiate coagulase-positive species. Following SCCmec and spa typing, isolates were tested for the presence of various toxin and virulence genes and phenotypic resistance to common antimicrobials. Overall, 4 MRSA were isolated from two veterinarians and two dogs and 19 MRSP were found in eleven dogs (12 isolates) and five cats (7 isolates). The MRSA isolates possessed sea (2) and eta (3) virulence genes and the MRSP isolates possessed sea (6), expA (15), expB (1) and siet (19) genes. SCCmec type II and three spa types (t186, t1816 and t10897) were identified in the MRSA isolates. Most of the MRSP isolates belonged to SCCmec types II (2 isolates) and V (10 isolates); however, the remaining 7 isolates were untypeable and contained class C1 mec. The majority of isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). These findings show that pets and veterinarians could be potential sources of MDR-MRSA and MDR-MRSP in Iran. Taken together, these findings warrant future investigations on the epidemiology and public-health significance of MDR-MRSA and MDR-MRSP both in veterinarians and companion animals in Iran.