Abstract
Background/Objectives: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is part of the normal microbiota in
dogs. Since 2006, an increase in multidrug-resistant clones of methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius
has been reported, as well as zoonotic transmission. Longitudinal investigations into clonal population
structures, antibiotic resistance patterns, and the presence of resistance and virulence genes
are important tools for gaining knowledge of the mechanisms behind the emergence of such clones.
Methods: We investigated 87% of all non-repetitive MRSP isolates from dogs and cats in Sweden
over a ten-year period (n = 356). All isolates were subjected to staphylococcal chromosomal cassette
mec identification, whole-genome sequencing, multi-locus sequence typing, and analyses of genomic
relatedness, as well as investigation of phenotypical resistance patterns and the presence of antibiotic
resistance genes and virulence genes. Results: A considerable increase over time in the number of
clonal lineages present was observed, indicating genomic diversification, and four clones became
dominant: ST71, ST258, ST265, and ST551. In total, 96% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant.
Statistically significant differences in resistance to several antibiotic classes between the four dominant
clones were present. All isolates carried several virulence genes encoding factors associated with
attachment, colonization, toxin synthesis, quorum sensing, antibiotic resistance, and immune evasion.
dogs. Since 2006, an increase in multidrug-resistant clones of methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius
has been reported, as well as zoonotic transmission. Longitudinal investigations into clonal population
structures, antibiotic resistance patterns, and the presence of resistance and virulence genes
are important tools for gaining knowledge of the mechanisms behind the emergence of such clones.
Methods: We investigated 87% of all non-repetitive MRSP isolates from dogs and cats in Sweden
over a ten-year period (n = 356). All isolates were subjected to staphylococcal chromosomal cassette
mec identification, whole-genome sequencing, multi-locus sequence typing, and analyses of genomic
relatedness, as well as investigation of phenotypical resistance patterns and the presence of antibiotic
resistance genes and virulence genes. Results: A considerable increase over time in the number of
clonal lineages present was observed, indicating genomic diversification, and four clones became
dominant: ST71, ST258, ST265, and ST551. In total, 96% of the isolates were multidrug-resistant.
Statistically significant differences in resistance to several antibiotic classes between the four dominant
clones were present. All isolates carried several virulence genes encoding factors associated with
attachment, colonization, toxin synthesis, quorum sensing, antibiotic resistance, and immune evasion.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 962 |
| Journal | Antibiotics |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 10 |
| Number of pages | 21 |
| ISSN | 2079-6382 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 12 Oct 2024 |
Keywords
- MRSP
- clonal lineages
- canine
- dog
- multidrug-resistant staphylococci
- SCCmec
- whole-genome sequencing