CLONAL SPREAD AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE PATTERNS OF METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS PSEUDINTERMEDIUS IN CANINE PYODERMA SAMPLES FROM INDIA

Abstract

Canine pyoderma is most commonly caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. Methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) is a major health risk in dogs. It can cause various diseases, including systemic infections in the urinary, respiratory, and reproductive tracts and topical infections such as canine pyoderma and otitis externa. The present study was conducted to screen and effectively analyze MRSP in suspected pyoderma cases and determine the prevalence of MRSP in India by conducting phylogenetic analysis. In the present study, a total of 30 skin swab samples were collected from dogs suspected of Staphylococcus pyoderma to characterize and identify resistant genes. Molecular characterization was performed by amplifying the target pse gene. Further, the mecA gene was amplified and sequenced to understand the incidence of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) and also to analyze their population genomic diversity. Among 30 samples, 17 were found positive for Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, of which, 6 samples tested positive for MRSP by the amplification of the mecA gene. Antibiotic sensitivity tests were carried out to study the resistance profile against MRSP. The phylogenetic analysis of the isolated strains of this study revealed the spread of the conserved mecA gene among Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in India.

Keywords

• canine
• methicillin-resistant
• pse gene
• meca gene
• staphylococcus pseudintermedius