Determination of methicillin, vancomycin, erythromycin and clindamycin susceptibilities in Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from cat oral and nasal swab samples

Abstract

The current study aims to examine the occurrence and antibiotic susceptabilities including methicillin resistance of S. aureus in pet cats oral and nasal svabs and to assess their potential role in the epidemiology for antibiotic resistance. Staphylococcus aureus is a common commensal bacterium found in the skin, nasal microbiota,  mucose membrans and respiratory tracts of humans and animals especially dogs and cats, respectively. This trend of increasing pet ownership has raised concerns about the potential for companion animals to spread zoonotic infections, including S. aureus. A total of 12 (%25) S. aureus isolates were obtained and identified as bright zoned black colonies on RPF-BP agar from 48 nasal and oral swabs collected from cats. According to the evaluation of methicillin susceptibility using the disk diffusion test following the EUCAST method, 2 S. aureus isolates were found to be methicillin-resistant. All S. aureus strains isolated were determined to be susceptible to vancomycin. In the double-disk diffusion test conducted to determine susceptibility to erythromycin and clindamycin, one (1) of the methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates also exhibited resistance to both erythromycin and clindamycin. In the PCR test, among the 2 methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates, 2 contained the mecC gene, while mecA gene was not found. Considering that these animals are pets, it suggests that they could transmit MRSA bacteria to their owners or other individuals through various routes such as biting, licking, and close contact. These results are of significant importance from a public health perspective, especially one health perspective.