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The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy2013; 68(6); 1256-1266; doi: 10.1093/jac/dkt020

Clinical and molecular features of methicillin-resistant, coagulase-negative staphylococci of pets and horses.

Abstract: To determine the antibiotic resistance and fingerprint profiles of methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) from animal infections among different practices and examine the history of antibiotic treatment. Methods: Isolates were identified by mass spectrometry and tested for antimicrobial resistance by broth dilution, microarrays and sequence analysis of the topoisomerases. Diversity was assessed by PFGE, icaA PCR and staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME) and multilocus sequence typing. Clinical records were examined retrospectively. Results: MRCoNS were identified as Staphylococcus epidermidis (n=20), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (n=17), Staphylococcus hominis (n=3), Staphylococcus capitis (n=1), Staphylococcus cohnii (n=1) and Staphylococcus warneri (n=1). PFGE identified one clonal lineage in S. hominis isolates and several in S. haemolyticus and S. epidermidis. Fourteen sequence types were identified in S. epidermidis, with sequence type 2 (ST2) and ST5 being predominant. Ten isolates contained SCCmec IV, seven contained SCCmec V and the others were non-typeable. ACMEs were detected in 11 S. epidermidis isolates. One S. hominis and 10 S. epidermidis isolates were icaA positive. In addition to mecA-mediated β-lactam resistance, the most frequent resistance was to gentamicin/kanamycin [aac(6')-Ie-aph(2')-Ia, aph(3')-III] (n=34), macrolides/lincosamides [erm(C), erm(A), msr, lnu(A)] (n=31), tetracycline [tet(K)] (n=22), streptomycin [str, ant(6)-Ia] (n=20), trimethoprim [dfr(A), dfr(G)] (n=17), sulfamethoxazole (n = 34) and fluoroquinolones [amino acid substitutions in GyrA and GrlA] (n=30). Clinical data suggest selection through multiple antibiotic courses and emphasize the importance of accurate diagnosis and antibiograms. Conclusions: MRCoNS from animal infection sites are genetically heterogeneous multidrug-resistant strains that represent a new challenge in the prevention and therapy of infections in veterinary clinics.
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Publication Date: 2013-02-20 PubMed ID: 23425780DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkt020Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The research article describes the study performed to analyze antibiotic resistance and genetic profiles of a group of bacteria called methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCoNS) found in pet and horse infections. The scientists also examined the history of antibiotic treatments for these infections.

Research Methodology

  • Isolates of MRCoNS from infected animals were identified using a technique called mass spectrometry.
  • Their resistance to different antimicrobial drugs was tested using broth dilution, microarrays, and sequence analysis of the topoisomerases, enzymes involved in DNA replication.
  • The diversity of the isolates was assessed using methods such as PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis), checking for the presence of the icaA gene through PCR (polymerase chain reaction), determining the type of staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec), arginine catabolic mobile element (ACME), and performing multilocus sequence typing.
  • Clinical records of the infected animals were also examined retrospectively to understand the history of antibiotic treatments.

Results of the Study

  • Various strains of MRCoNS were identified in the infections, including Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus cohnii, and Staphylococcus warneri.
  • Genetic diversity was present in these strains, with different lineages detected in various strains. S. epidermidis was found to have 14 unique sequence types, with ST2 and ST5 being the most common.
  • Some strains contained SCCmec IV and SCCmec V genetic elements, while others could not be typed. ACMEs were detected in 11 S. epidermidis isolates, while 10 S. epidermidis and 1 S. hominis were found to be positive for the icaA gene.
  • Along with resistance to β-lactam antibiotics due to the mecA gene, resistance was also found to other antibiotics such as gentamicin/kanamycin, macrolides/lincosamides, tetracycline, streptomycin, trimethoprim, sulfamethoxazole, and fluoroquinolones.
  • The clinical data suggested that these resistance patterns were selected through multiple courses of antibiotics, highlighting the need for accurate diagnosis and proper selection of antibacterial drugs.

Conclusions

  • MRCoNS from animal infection sites are genetically diverse and exhibit resistance to multiple drugs. This poses a challenge in the prevention and treatment of these bacterial infections in veterinary clinics.

Cite This Article

APA
Kern A, Perreten V. (2013). Clinical and molecular features of methicillin-resistant, coagulase-negative staphylococci of pets and horses. J Antimicrob Chemother, 68(6), 1256-1266. https://doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkt020

Publication

The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy
ISSN: 1460-2091
NlmUniqueID: 7513617
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 68
Issue: 6
Pages: 1256-1266

Researcher Affiliations

Kern, Andrea
  • Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.
Perreten, Vincent

    MeSH Terms

    • Animals
    • Cat Diseases / microbiology
    • Cats
    • Chromosomes, Bacterial / genetics
    • Coagulase / metabolism
    • Colony Count, Microbial
    • DNA Topoisomerases, Type I / genetics
    • Dog Diseases / microbiology
    • Dogs
    • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
    • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial / genetics
    • Genotype
    • Horse Diseases / microbiology
    • Horses / microbiology
    • Interspersed Repetitive Sequences / genetics
    • Mass Spectrometry
    • Methicillin Resistance / genetics
    • Microarray Analysis
    • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
    • Pets / microbiology
    • Polymerase Chain Reaction
    • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
    • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
    • Staphylococcus / drug effects
    • Staphylococcus / enzymology
    • Staphylococcus / genetics

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    This article has been cited 29 times.
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