Molecular Epidemiology of Clinical and Colonizing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Isolates in Companion Animals

Hester Rynhoud; Brian M Forde; Scott A Beatson; Sam Abraham; Erika Meler; Ricardo J Soares Magalhães; Justine S Gibson

doi:10.3389/fvets.2021.620491

Molecular Epidemiology of Clinical and Colonizing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Isolates in Companion Animals

Front Vet Sci. 2021 Apr 23:8:620491. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.620491. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Hester Rynhoud¹, Brian M Forde^{2

3

4}, Scott A Beatson^{2

3

4}, Sam Abraham⁵, Erika Meler¹, Ricardo J Soares Magalhães^{1

6}, Justine S Gibson¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD, Australia.
² School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
³ Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
⁴ Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
⁵ Antimicrobial Resistance and Infectious Diseases Laboratory, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch, WA, Australia.
⁶ Children Health and Environment Program, UQ Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD, Australia.

Abstract

In this study, we aimed to investigate the molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) clinical and colonizing isolates of dogs and cats to profile contributing factors associated with their isolation. Nasal and rectal samples were collected from dogs and cats between 2015 and 2017 to identify colonizing isolates. Clinical isolates collected between 2003 and 2016 were retrieved from a Queensland university veterinary diagnostic laboratory. All isolates were identified using standard microbiological and molecular methods and were characterized by whole genome sequencing. Phylogenetic relationships and differences in epidemiological factors were investigated. Seventy-two MRSP isolates out of 1,460 colonizing samples and nine MRSP clinical isolates were identified. No MRSA was isolated. ST496 and ST749 were the most commonly isolated sequence types with different SCCmec types. ST496 clones spread both along the coast and more inland where ST749 was more centered in Brisbane. The resistance and virulence factors differed significantly between the two sequence types. ST496 colonizing and clinical isolates were similarly multidrug resistant. The virulence genes of ST749 colonizing and clinical isolates were similar as both contained the gene nanB for sialidase. There were no differences in the individual and clinical factors between predominant sequence types. High levels of antimicrobial resistance occurred in the majority of isolates, which is of potential concern to human and veterinary health. The phylogenetic clustering of isolates from this study and others previously identified in countries, particularly New Zealand, with which Australia has high volume of pet movements could suggest the importation of clones, which needs further investigation.

Keywords: colonized; methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus; methicillin resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius; molecular epidemiology; resistance; virulence.