Isolation rates of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in dogs, cats and horses in Ireland.
Abstract: A retrospective analysis and prospective surveillance study were conducted to determine isolation rates of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in dogs, cats and horses in Ireland. Clinical samples that had been submitted to University College Dublin (UCD) for routine microbiological examination over a four-year period (2003 to 2006) were analysed in the retrospective analysis, which included clinical samples from 3866 animals. In the prospective surveillance study, samples from healthy animals presenting for elective surgery as well as from animals with a clinical presentation suggestive of MRSA infection were investigated. Animals attending 30 veterinary practices throughout Ireland and a similar population of animals presented to UCD were studied. The isolation rates for animals in the retrospective study were 1.1 per cent (32 of 2864) for dogs, 0.7 per cent (four of 619) for cats and 5.2 per cent (20 of 383) for horses. The overall isolation rate of MRSA was 1.4 per cent (56 of 3866). Isolation rates for healthy animals in the prospective study were 0.4 per cent (one of 286) for dogs and 1.7 per cent (four of 236) for horses; MRSA was not isolated from cats (0 of 47). Isolation rates for animals suspected of being infected with MRSA were 8.1 per cent (14 of 173) for dogs and 4.6 per cent (three of 65) for horses; MRSA was not isolated from cats (0 of 47).
Publication Date: 2010-04-13 PubMed ID: 20382932DOI: 10.1136/vr.b4814Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article conducted both retrospective and prospective analysis to determine the prevalence of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in domestic pets and horses in Ireland. The retrospective study analyzed samples from more than 3800 animals over four years while the prospective study screened animals in veterinary practices throughout the nation.
Retrospective Analysis
- The retrospective study addressed the presence of MRSA in samples that had been submitted to the University College Dublin (UCD) over a period of four years, from 2003 to 2006. The samples came from a total of 3866 animals, including dogs, cats, and horses.
- The researchers found that the rates of MRSA isolation among these samples were 1.1% (32 of 2864) for dogs, 0.7% (four of 619) for cats, and 5.2% (20 of 383) for horses.
- The overall MRSA isolation rate among all animals in this study was 1.4% (56 of 3866).
Prospective Surveillance Study
- The prospective surveillance study included samples from both seemingly healthy animals as well as those suspected of having an MRSA infection. These animals, part of 30 veterinary practices all over Ireland, were under consideration for elective surgery or showed signs suggesting MRSA infection.
- Among the apparently healthy animals, the MRSA isolation rates were 0.4% (one of 286) for dogs and 1.7% (four of 236) for horses. No MRSA was found in the cats that were investigated (0 of 47).
- Among the animals suspected to be infected with MRSA, the isolation rates were considerably higher. These rates were 8.1% (14 of 173) for dogs and 4.6% (three of 65) for horses. Again, no cats tested positive for MRSA (0 of 47).
Conclusion
- The results from both the retrospective and prospective studies provide an extensive look into the presence of MRSA in domestic animals in Ireland. Notably, the prevalence of MRSA in cats remained consistently low in both studies.
- The findings of this study can be used as a reference point for future research into MRSA in pets and larger animals like horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Abbott Y, Leggett B, Rossney AS, Leonard FC, Markey BK.
(2010).
Isolation rates of meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in dogs, cats and horses in Ireland.
Vet Rec, 166(15), 451-455.
https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.b4814 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Sciences Centre, School of Agriculture, Food Science and Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland. yvonne.abbott@ucd.ie
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cat Diseases / epidemiology
- Cats
- Dog Diseases / epidemiology
- Dogs
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horses
- Ireland / epidemiology
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification
- Population Surveillance
- Prospective Studies
- Retrospective Studies
- Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
- Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary
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