FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Epidemiol Infect / Prevalence of and risk factors for MRSA carriage in companio...
Epidemiology and infection2010; 139(7); 1019-1028; doi: 10.1017/S095026881000227X

Prevalence of and risk factors for MRSA carriage in companion animals: a survey of dogs, cats and horses.

Abstract: We investigated the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in a convenience sample of purposely selected populations of dogs, cats and horses in the Greater London area. Swabs from carriage sites were pooled, enriched and processed by standard bacteriological methods. The presence of nuc and mecA was confirmed for MRSA. Risk factors were investigated among veterinary treatment group animals using exact logistic regression analysis. Twenty-six (1.53%) MRSA carriers were identified in the 1692 animals (15/704 dogs, 8/540 cats, 3/152 horses). Animals presenting for veterinary treatment more frequently carried MRSA than healthy animals (OR 7.27, 95% CI 2.18-24.31, P<0.001). Concurrent carriage of non-MRSA coagulase-positive staphylococci was associated with MRSA carriage (OR 0.088, 95% CI 0.016-0.31, P<0.001); none of the other 13 putative risk factors was significant. MRSA carriage was rare in the selected companion animal populations. The absence of typical risk factors indicates that companion animals act as contaminated vectors rather than as true reservoirs.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2010-10-14 PubMed ID: 20943000DOI: 10.1017/S095026881000227XGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research focused on investigating the rate and risk factors of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in dogs, cats, and horses, with findings suggesting that animals receiving veterinary treatment were more likely to carry MRSA.

Research Methodology

  • The study investigated the prevalence of MRSA carriage in purposely selected populations of companion animals, namely dogs, cats, and horses, in the Greater London area. The sample size included 704 dogs, 540 cats, and 152 horses.
  • Swabs were taken from carriage sites—the places where the MRSA bacteria are typically found—and analyzed using standard bacteriological methods. The presence of two genes, nuc and mecA, confirmed the presence of MRSA.
  • The risk factors for MRSA carriage were investigated in animals undergoing veterinary treatment through exact logistic regression analysis, a statistical analysis process.

Findings

  • Out of 1692 animals sampled, 26 (1.53%) were identified as MRSA carriers. The distribution was 15 out of 704 dogs, 8 out of 540 cats, and 3 out of 152 horses.
  • The study found that animals that were presented for veterinary treatment carried MRSA more frequently than healthy animals. The odds ratio (OR) was 7.27, with a 95% confidence interval between 2.18 and 24.31, and statistically significant with P<0.001.
  • Concurrent carriage of non-MRSA coagulase-positive staphylococci—a type of bacteria—was also associated with MRSA carriage. The odds ratio (OR) was 0.088, with a confidence interval between 0.016 and 0.31, and statistically significant with P<0.001.
  • None of the other 13 potential risk factors examined was found to be significant.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that MRSA carriage was rare in the sampled companion animal populations.
  • The absence of typical risk factors suggests that companion animals act more as contaminated vectors—agents that carry and possibly transmit pathogens—rather than as true reservoirs.

Cite This Article

APA
Loeffler A, Pfeiffer DU, Lindsay JA, Soares Magalhães RJ, Lloyd DH. (2010). Prevalence of and risk factors for MRSA carriage in companion animals: a survey of dogs, cats and horses. Epidemiol Infect, 139(7), 1019-1028. https://doi.org/10.1017/S095026881000227X

Publication

Epidemiology and infection
ISSN: 1469-4409
NlmUniqueID: 8703737
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 139
Issue: 7
Pages: 1019-1028

Researcher Affiliations

Loeffler, A
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, UK.
Pfeiffer, D U
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, UK.
Lindsay, J A
  • Centre for Infection, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, St George's, University of London, London, UK.
Soares Magalhães, R J
  • University of Queensland, School of Population Health, Herston, Queensland, Australia.
Lloyd, D H
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, North Mymms, Hertfordshire, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Carrier State / epidemiology
  • Carrier State / microbiology
  • Carrier State / veterinary
  • Cat Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cat Diseases / microbiology
  • Cats
  • Dog Diseases / epidemiology
  • Dog Diseases / microbiology
  • Dogs
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
  • Horse Diseases / microbiology
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • London / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus
  • Pets / microbiology
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / veterinary

Citations

This article has been cited 36 times.
  1. Popa I, Iancu I, Iorgoni V, Degi J, Gligor A, Imre K, Tîrziu E, Bochiș T, Pop C, Plotuna AM, Nistor P, Pentea M, Herman V, Nichita I. Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus schleiferi Isolated from Dogs with Otitis Externa and Healthy Dogs. Antibiotics (Basel) 2025 Nov 24;14(12).
    doi: 10.3390/antibiotics14121194pubmed: 41463697google scholar: lookup
  2. Núñez A, Castro R, Thomson P. Antimicrobial resistance of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus isolated from the external ear canal of healthy cats in Talca, Chile, South América preliminary results. Open Vet J 2025 Sep;15(9):4075-4081.
    doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i9.11pubmed: 41200295google scholar: lookup
  3. Abdulrahman RF. Occurrence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in healthy pets in Duhok Province, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. Open Vet J 2025 Jun;15(6):2449-2456.
    doi: 10.5455/OVJ.2025.v15.i6.17pubmed: 40989601google scholar: lookup
  4. Blackstock M, Park J, Loop MS, Hyte M, Perkins A, Gunter SG, Matthews L, Huber L. Comparative study on the time trends of antimicrobial resistance at animal and human hospitals in a shared community. One Health 2025 Jun;20:101096.
    doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101096pubmed: 40529905google scholar: lookup
  5. Caddey B, Fisher S, Barkema HW, Nobrega DB. Companions in antimicrobial resistance: examining transmission of common antimicrobial-resistant organisms between people and their dogs, cats, and horses. Clin Microbiol Rev 2025 Mar 13;38(1):e0014622.
    doi: 10.1128/cmr.00146-22pubmed: 39853095google scholar: lookup
  6. Bullone M, Bellato A, Robino P, Nebbia P, Morello S, Marchis D, Tarducci A, Ru G. Prevalence and risk factors associated with nasal carriage of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in horses and their caregivers. Vet Res 2024 Sep 9;55(1):108.
    doi: 10.1186/s13567-024-01364-0pubmed: 39252070google scholar: lookup
  7. Kakooza S, Eneku W, Nabatta E, Wampande EM, Ssajjakambwe P, Wanyana M, Munyiirwa DFN, Ndoboli D, Namuyinda D, Athieno G, Kayaga E, Okwasiimire R, Tsuchida S, Ushida K, Sakurai K, Mutebi F. Integrating multi-wet laboratory diagnostics to study staphylococci in animals in Uganda. BMC Microbiol 2024 Aug 10;24(1):298.
    doi: 10.1186/s12866-024-03442-xpubmed: 39127665google scholar: lookup
  8. Kasela M, Ossowski M, Dzikoń E, Ignatiuk K, Wlazło Ł, Malm A. The Epidemiology of Animal-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023 Jun 20;12(6).
    doi: 10.3390/antibiotics12061079pubmed: 37370398google scholar: lookup
  9. Matuszewska M, Dabrowska A, Murray GGR, Kett SM, Vick AJA, Banister SC, Pantoja Munoz L, Cunningham P, Welch JJ, Holmes MA, Weinert LA. Absence of Staphylococcus aureus in Wild Populations of Fish Supports a Spillover Hypothesis. Microbiol Spectr 2023 Aug 17;11(4):e0485822.
    doi: 10.1128/spectrum.04858-22pubmed: 37341608google scholar: lookup
  10. Khairullah AR, Sudjarwo SA, Effendi MH, Ramandinianto SC, Gelolodo MA, Widodo A, Riwu KHP, Kurniawati DA. Pet animals as reservoirs for spreading methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus to human health. J Adv Vet Anim Res 2023 Mar;10(1):1-13.
    doi: 10.5455/javar.2023.j641pubmed: 37155545google scholar: lookup
  11. Abdullahi IN, Zarazaga M, Campaña-Burguet A, Eguizábal P, Lozano C, Torres C. Nasal Staphylococcus aureus and S. pseudintermedius carriage in healthy dogs and cats: a systematic review of their antibiotic resistance, virulence and genetic lineages of zoonotic relevance. J Appl Microbiol 2022 Dec;133(6):3368-3390.
    doi: 10.1111/jam.15803pubmed: 36063061google scholar: lookup
  12. Gass JD Jr, Waite KB, Hill NJ, Dalton KR, Sawatzki K, Runstadler JA, Davis MF. A standardized instrument quantifying risk factors associated with bi-directional transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other zoonotic pathogens: The COVID-19 human-animal interactions survey (CHAIS). One Health 2022 Dec;15:100422.
    doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2022.100422pubmed: 35910303google scholar: lookup
  13. Rynhoud H, Forde BM, Beatson SA, Abraham S, Meler E, Soares Magalhães RJ, Gibson JS. Molecular Epidemiology of Clinical and Colonizing Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Isolates in Companion Animals. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:620491.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.620491pubmed: 33969030google scholar: lookup
  14. Hemeg HA. Determination of phylogenetic relationships among methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus recovered from infected humans and Companion Animals. Saudi J Biol Sci 2021 Apr;28(4):2098-2101.
    doi: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.01.017pubmed: 33911925google scholar: lookup
  15. Elnageh HR, Hiblu MA, Abbassi MS, Abouzeed YM, Ahmed MO. Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus species isolated from cats and dogs. Open Vet J 2021 Jan;10(4):452-456.
    doi: 10.4314/ovj.v10i4.13pubmed: 33614441google scholar: lookup
  16. Park S, Ronholm J. Staphylococcus aureus in Agriculture: Lessons in Evolution from a Multispecies Pathogen. Clin Microbiol Rev 2021 Mar 17;34(2).
    doi: 10.1128/CMR.00182-20pubmed: 33568553google scholar: lookup
  17. Ruiz-Ripa L, Simón C, Ceballos S, Ortega C, Zarazaga M, Torres C, Gómez-Sanz E. S. pseudintermedius and S. aureus lineages with transmission ability circulate as causative agents of infections in pets for years. BMC Vet Res 2021 Jan 21;17(1):42.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-020-02726-4pubmed: 33478473google scholar: lookup
  18. Gwenzi W, Chaukura N, Muisa-Zikali N, Teta C, Musvuugwa T, Rzymski P, Abia ALK. Insects, Rodents, and Pets as Reservoirs, Vectors, and Sentinels of Antimicrobial Resistance. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 Jan 12;10(1).
    doi: 10.3390/antibiotics10010068pubmed: 33445633google scholar: lookup
  19. Ma GC, Worthing KA, Ward MP, Norris JM. Commensal Staphylococci Including Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus from Dogs and Cats in Remote New South Wales, Australia. Microb Ecol 2020 Jan;79(1):164-174.
    doi: 10.1007/s00248-019-01382-ypubmed: 31049616google scholar: lookup
  20. Bierowiec K, Korzeniowska-Kowal A, Wzorek A, Rypuła K, Gamian A. Prevalence of Staphylococcus Species Colonization in Healthy and Sick Cats. Biomed Res Int 2019;2019:4360525.
    doi: 10.1155/2019/4360525pubmed: 30800668google scholar: lookup
  21. Rahman MM, Amin KB, Rahman SMM, Khair A, Rahman M, Hossain A, Rahman AKMA, Parvez MS, Miura N, Alam MM. Investigation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus among clinical isolates from humans and animals by culture methods and multiplex PCR. BMC Vet Res 2018 Oct 3;14(1):300.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-018-1611-0pubmed: 30285752google scholar: lookup
  22. Petinaki E, Spiliopoulou I. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization and infection risks from companion animals: current perspectives. Vet Med (Auckl) 2015;6:373-382.
    doi: 10.2147/VMRR.S91313pubmed: 30101122google scholar: lookup
  23. Lloyd DH, Page SW. Antimicrobial Stewardship in Veterinary Medicine. Microbiol Spectr 2018 May;6(3).
    doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.ARBA-0023-2017pubmed: 29916349google scholar: lookup
  24. Hardefeldt LY, Holloway S, Trott DJ, Shipstone M, Barrs VR, Malik R, Burrows M, Armstrong S, Browning GF, Stevenson M. Antimicrobial Prescribing in Dogs and Cats in Australia: Results of the Australasian Infectious Disease Advisory Panel Survey. J Vet Intern Med 2017 Jul;31(4):1100-1107.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.14733pubmed: 28514013google scholar: lookup
  25. Bierowiec K, Płoneczka-Janeczko K, Rypuła K. Prevalence and Risk Factors of Colonization with Staphylococcus aureus in Healthy Pet Cats Kept in the City Households. Biomed Res Int 2016;2016:3070524.
    doi: 10.1155/2016/3070524pubmed: 27766257google scholar: lookup
  26. Misic AM, Cain CL, Morris DO, Rankin SC, Beiting DP. Divergent Isoprenoid Biosynthesis Pathways in Staphylococcus Species Constitute a Drug Target for Treating Infections in Companion Animals. mSphere 2016 Sep-Oct;1(5).
    doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00258-16pubmed: 27704053google scholar: lookup
  27. Bierowiec K, Płoneczka-Janeczko K, Rypuła K. Is the Colonisation of Staphylococcus aureus in Pets Associated with Their Close Contact with Owners?. PLoS One 2016;11(5):e0156052.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0156052pubmed: 27227897google scholar: lookup
  28. Ruzauskas M, Couto N, Kerziene S, Siugzdiniene R, Klimiene I, Virgailis M, Pomba C. Prevalence, species distribution and antimicrobial resistance patterns of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in Lithuanian pet animals. Acta Vet Scand 2015 Jun 2;57(1):27.
    doi: 10.1186/s13028-015-0117-zpubmed: 26032539google scholar: lookup
  29. Chah KF, Gómez-Sanz E, Nwanta JA, Asadu B, Agbo IC, Lozano C, Zarazaga M, Torres C. Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci from healthy dogs in Nsukka, Nigeria. Braz J Microbiol 2014;45(1):215-20.
    doi: 10.1590/S1517-83822014005000034pubmed: 24948934google scholar: lookup
  30. Harrison EM, Weinert LA, Holden MT, Welch JJ, Wilson K, Morgan FJ, Harris SR, Loeffler A, Boag AK, Peacock SJ, Paterson GK, Waller AS, Parkhill J, Holmes MA. A shared population of epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 15 circulates in humans and companion animals. mBio 2014 May 13;5(3):e00985-13.
    doi: 10.1128/mBio.00985-13pubmed: 24825010google scholar: lookup
  31. Schmidt VM, Williams NJ, Pinchbeck G, Corless CE, Shaw S, McEwan N, Dawson S, Nuttall T. Antimicrobial resistance and characterisation of staphylococci isolated from healthy Labrador retrievers in the United Kingdom. BMC Vet Res 2014 Jan 14;10:17.
    doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-10-17pubmed: 24423104google scholar: lookup
  32. Quitoco IM, Ramundo MS, Silva-Carvalho MC, Souza RR, Beltrame CO, de Oliveira TF, Araújo R, Del Peloso PF, Coelho LR, Figueiredo AM. First report in South America of companion animal colonization by the USA1100 clone of community-acquired meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ST30) and by the European clone of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (ST71). BMC Res Notes 2013 Aug 27;6:336.
    doi: 10.1186/1756-0500-6-336pubmed: 23981343google scholar: lookup
  33. Harrison EM, Paterson GK, Holden MT, Larsen J, Stegger M, Larsen AR, Petersen A, Skov RL, Christensen JM, Bak Zeuthen A, Heltberg O, Harris SR, Zadoks RN, Parkhill J, Peacock SJ, Holmes MA. Whole genome sequencing identifies zoonotic transmission of MRSA isolates with the novel mecA homologue mecC. EMBO Mol Med 2013 Apr;5(4):509-15.
    doi: 10.1002/emmm.201202413pubmed: 23526809google scholar: lookup
  34. van Balen J, Kelley C, Nava-Hoet RC, Bateman S, Hillier A, Dyce J, Wittum TE, Hoet AE. Presence, distribution, and molecular epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a small animal teaching hospital: a year-long active surveillance targeting dogs and their environment. Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis 2013 May;13(5):299-311.
    doi: 10.1089/vbz.2012.1142pubmed: 23473216google scholar: lookup
  35. Pantosti A. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Associated with Animals and Its Relevance to Human Health. Front Microbiol 2012;3:127.
    doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00127pubmed: 22509176google scholar: lookup
  36. Ferreira JP, Anderson KL, Correa MT, Lyman R, Ruffin F, Reller LB, Fowler VG Jr. Transmission of MRSA between companion animals and infected human patients presenting to outpatient medical care facilities. PLoS One 2011;6(11):e26978.
    doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0026978pubmed: 22102871google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.