Identification and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus spp. isolated from cats
Date Issued
2024-09
Author(s)
Blazhevska Dea, Vlahov Jane, Shikoska Ivana, Cvetkovikj Iskra
Abstract
The misuse of antibiotics in companion animals has significantly contributed to the emergence of
antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As their population grows, cats are increasingly recognized as potential
reservoirs for AMR. The aim of this study was to identify Staphylococcus species isolated from feline
clinical samples and determine their antimicrobial resistance patterns to antibiotics commonly used in
small animal practice. Fifteen clinical samples were collected from cats with suspected bacterial
infections from different body locations - wounds (6/15, 40%), eyes (6/15, 40%), skin (2/15, 13.3%),
and urine (1/15, 6.7%). Samples were cultured on blood agar and incubated aerobically at 37°C for 24
hours. Following incubation, colonies suspected as staphylococci were identified by MALDI-TOF mass
spectrometry. Three Staphylococcus species were identified: Staphylococcus felis (11/15, 73.3%),
Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (3/15, 20%) and Staphylococcus aureus (1/15, 6.7%). Antimicrobial
susceptibility testing was performed using Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion test with a panel of 10 antibiotics
representing eight different antibiotic classes. Additionally, oxacillin disks for S. pseudintermedius and
cefoxitin disks for S. felis and S. aureus were used as CLSI screen test for methicillin resistance in
staphylococci. Among all the isolates, 33.3% (5/15) showed resistance to at least one antibiotic.
Antimicrobial resistance was observed to penicillin (3/15, 20%), tetracycline (2/15, 13.3%),
erythromycin (3/15, 20%), enrofloxacin (3/15, 20%), gentamicin (1/15, 6.7%) and clindamycin (1/15,
6.7%). Importantly, only one isolate identified as Staphylococcus aureus, showed resistance to more
than three classes of antibiotics, and was therefore classified as multi-drug resistant (MDR). Moreover,
resistance to oxacillin/cefoxitin was detected in three out of 15 staphylococci (20%): one S.felis, one
S.pseudintermedius, and one S.aureus. All of the isolates were susceptible to marbofloxacin,
pradofloxacin, chloramphenicol and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Obtained results indicate that
opportunistic infections in cats caused by S.felis are emerging and that methicillin resistance may also
be present in coagulase-negative staphylococci. Further research is needed to determine the prevalence
of AMR in staphylococci isolated from clinical samples of cats in the Republic of North Macedonia.
antimicrobial resistance (AMR). As their population grows, cats are increasingly recognized as potential
reservoirs for AMR. The aim of this study was to identify Staphylococcus species isolated from feline
clinical samples and determine their antimicrobial resistance patterns to antibiotics commonly used in
small animal practice. Fifteen clinical samples were collected from cats with suspected bacterial
infections from different body locations - wounds (6/15, 40%), eyes (6/15, 40%), skin (2/15, 13.3%),
and urine (1/15, 6.7%). Samples were cultured on blood agar and incubated aerobically at 37°C for 24
hours. Following incubation, colonies suspected as staphylococci were identified by MALDI-TOF mass
spectrometry. Three Staphylococcus species were identified: Staphylococcus felis (11/15, 73.3%),
Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (3/15, 20%) and Staphylococcus aureus (1/15, 6.7%). Antimicrobial
susceptibility testing was performed using Kirby-Bauer disk-diffusion test with a panel of 10 antibiotics
representing eight different antibiotic classes. Additionally, oxacillin disks for S. pseudintermedius and
cefoxitin disks for S. felis and S. aureus were used as CLSI screen test for methicillin resistance in
staphylococci. Among all the isolates, 33.3% (5/15) showed resistance to at least one antibiotic.
Antimicrobial resistance was observed to penicillin (3/15, 20%), tetracycline (2/15, 13.3%),
erythromycin (3/15, 20%), enrofloxacin (3/15, 20%), gentamicin (1/15, 6.7%) and clindamycin (1/15,
6.7%). Importantly, only one isolate identified as Staphylococcus aureus, showed resistance to more
than three classes of antibiotics, and was therefore classified as multi-drug resistant (MDR). Moreover,
resistance to oxacillin/cefoxitin was detected in three out of 15 staphylococci (20%): one S.felis, one
S.pseudintermedius, and one S.aureus. All of the isolates were susceptible to marbofloxacin,
pradofloxacin, chloramphenicol and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Obtained results indicate that
opportunistic infections in cats caused by S.felis are emerging and that methicillin resistance may also
be present in coagulase-negative staphylococci. Further research is needed to determine the prevalence
of AMR in staphylococci isolated from clinical samples of cats in the Republic of North Macedonia.
File(s)![Thumbnail Image]()
Loading...
Name
2024_IDENTIFICATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS SPP.ISOLATED FROM CATS.pdf
Size
1.09 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum
(MD5):282eb325bda168e99182ec65651b6ad1