Prevalence Of Staphylococcus Pseudintermedius In Cats Population In Poland

Purpose: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (S. pseudintermedius) is a part of the normal microbiota of dogs and cats. This opportunistic bacteria can cause a wide range of infections, ranging from pyoderma and surgical wound infections to deep infections such as osteomyelitis. The present study reports on the incidence, antibiotic resistance, and risk factors of S. pseudintermedius colonization in cats dependent on their state of health. Methods & Materials: The study was conducted in the years 2013–2017. There were collecting samples from healthy cats (n = 520) and animals with infection of the conjunctiva, upper respiratory tract or skin (n = 67). Swabs from animals were taken from nares, conjunctival sacs, anus and skin. The isolates of Staphylococcus were classified as coagulase-positive Staphylococcus (CPS) using coagulase tube test. Species identification was conducted using Matrix Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The antimicrobial susceptibility was conducted using disc-diffusion method. Results: There were observed a statistically significant correlation between the state of health and colonization with S. pseudintermedius in cats (p = 0.02856, OR = 4.93; CI 95% = 1.84–12.56). The prevalence in healthy cats group was 3.08% (CI 95% 1,62–4,53%) and in sick animals 11.97% (CI 95% 4.48–19.4%). From cats under investigation 26 of S. pseudintermedius strains were isolated: 15 and 10 from healthy and sick animals respectively. Only strains isolated from sick animals shown methicillin resistance on the phenotypic level (18.18% methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP)) whereas 26.26% and 45.45% strains from healthy and sick cats respectively harboring mecA gene were detected. Also much more often S. pseudintermedius isolates from infected animals were resistance to others chemotherapeutics. Conclusion: Bacterial infection was a significant risk for colonization with S. pseudintermedius in cats. Infections coused by S. pseudintermedius may be a significant therapeutic problem because some strains have been characterized by resistance to the majority of chemotherapeutic drugs commonly used in domestic animals.