Biological properties of staphylococci derived from cats and dogs

Dogs and cats that live near humans are a source of zoonotic agents. The purpose of the study was to investigate domestic dogs and cats for staphylococcus carriers and to study their biological properties, biofilm ability, and antibiotic resistance in isolated cultures. A total of 44 samples were collected from 19 dogs and 25 cats of different age and sex groups. Staphylococci were detected in 54% of all samples selected. 25 cultures of Staphylococcus spp. were isolated. Plasma coagulation reaction was negative in 100% of strains isolated from cats and positive in 2 strains isolated from dogs (18%). Lecithinase activity was detected in 85.8% of strains isolated from cats and 72.8% from dogs. 71.5% of strains isolated from cats and 63.7% from dogs had the ability to induce hemolysis. Mannitol was fermented in 50.0% of strains isolated from cats and 54.6% from dogs. 78.6% of strains isolated from cats and 91.0% isolated from dogs grew on crystal violet lactose agar in the form of blue colonies. Simultaneously 28.5% of strains isolated from cats and 27.2% isolated from dogs showed the lecithinase activity, hemolysis, fermented mannitol, and grew on crystal violet lactose agar. The derived strains from cats and dogs had multiple resistance to Oxacillin, two or more groups of antibiotics. As a result of the study of biofilm formation, all 100% of isolates obtained from dogs had a high optical density (OD > 1.0) and the ability to form a biofilm. Only 21.4% of strains isolated from cats formed biofilms with a medium optical density (OD > 0.5 < 1.0), and the remaining 78.5% – high optical density (OD > 1.0) and the ability to form a biofilm