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. 2024 Nov 15;11(11):568.
doi: 10.3390/vetsci11110568.

Presence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci and Carbapenemase-Positive Acinetobacter Isolates on Surfaces in German Dog Daycare Facilities and Correlation with Cleaning Practices

Stephanie Forbes  1 , Ellen Prenger-Berninghoff  2 , Christa Ewers  2 , Maren Doelle  1 , Anja Roethig  3
Affiliations

Presence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococci and Carbapenemase-Positive Acinetobacter Isolates on Surfaces in German Dog Daycare Facilities and Correlation with Cleaning Practices

Stephanie Forbes et al. Vet Sci. .

Abstract

Many bacteria, including methicillin-resistant staphylococci and opportunistic pathogens such as Acinetobacter (A.) species, in particular members of the A. calcoaceticus-A. baumannii (Acb) complex, are known to survive in environmental settings. This increases the risk of bacterial spreading and transmission to animals and humans, especially in institutions with a high animal population density. This study aimed to identify the presence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) staphylococci and Acinetobacter species in dog daycare facilities (DDFs). The surfaces of 16 DDFs were sampled and information about cleaning practices was obtained. After microbial identification, the detected isolates were investigated by multiplex PCR for antimicrobial resistance genes. In 200 location samples, 38 staphylococci and 109 Acinetobacter spp. isolates were identified. Methicillin-resistant genes were confirmed in 18 staphylococci isolates from four DDFs, including Staphylococcus (S.) equorum, S. saprophyticus, S. cohnii, S. lentus, and S. haemolyticus. Eight A. radioresistens isolates comprising the blaOXA-23 carbapenemase gene and seventeen isolates belonging to the Acb complex were also isolated. This is the first investigation for MDR pathogens in DDFs, a close human-animal interaction environment. Though the role of DDFs in the transmission and spreading of MDR bacteria is not known, the findings should contribute to the public awareness and underscore the necessity of adequate cleaning protocols.

Keywords: Acinetobacter species; antimicrobial resistance; dog daycare facilities; methicillin-resistant staphylococci; one health; risk factors; transmission.

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Conflict of interest statement

Stephanie Forbes and Anja Roethig have been, and Maren Doelle is working for AniCura; the study has been funded by an independent scientific grant from AniCura. Ellen Prenger-Berninghoff and Christa Ewers are working at the Institute of Hygiene and Infectious Diseases of Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen; the study has been additionally funded by internal financial sources.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Isolation of Staphylococcus (S.) spp. and Acinetobacter (A.) spp. isolates, positive or negative, for the investigated antimicrobial resistance genes (mecA, blaOXA-23) from 16 dog daycare facilities (DDFs). Staphylococci species were divided into coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoPS and CoNS). For Acinetobacter spp., the blaOXA-23-negative Acinetobacter were summarized and the A. calcoaceticus—A. baumannii complex consisting of A. calcoaceticus, A. baumannii, and A. pittii was highlighted due to its clinical relevance.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Identification of methicillin-resistant (mecA-positive) Staphylococcus spp. according to sample locations.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Identification of carbapenemase-positive Acinetobacter (A.) radioresistens and carbapenemase-negative Acinetobacter of the A. calcoaceticus—A. baumannii complex according to sample locations.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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