Methicillin-resistant infections in pets

Heller, J. (2011). "Meticillin-resistant staphylococci in companion animals." Veterinary Record 169(3): 68-69.

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in companion animals is a concern for human health. One organism of concern in human medicine is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This bacteria is commonly found in people, but only rarely in dogs and cats. Dogs and cats, on the other hand, are infected most commonly with Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP). Investigation of dogs and cats in Portugal, where MRSA is a problem, discovered that pets were found to harbor MSRP relatively commonly. These bacteria had significant antibiotic resistance, and when wounds or other internal tissues are infected opportunistically, treatment can be difficult. There is potential for MRSP in pets to be passed to humans, though the extent of this occurrence remains unknown. Further research is needed to define the role, if any, of MRSP in human infections. [MK]

Related articles:  
Ferreira, J. P., K. L. Anderson, et al. (2011). "Transmission of MRSA between Companion Animals and Infected Human Patients Presenting to Outpatient Medical Care Facilities." PLoS ONE 6(11): e26978.

More on cat health:
Winn Feline Foundation Library
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Heller, J. (2011). "Meticillin-resistant staphylococci in companion animals." Veterinary Record 169(3): 68-69.

The emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria in companion animals is a concern for human health. One organism of concern in human medicine is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This bacteria is commonly found in people, but only rarely in dogs and cats. Dogs and cats, on the other hand, are infected most commonly with Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP). Investigation of dogs and cats in Portugal, where MRSA is a problem, discovered that pets were found to harbor MSRP relatively commonly. These bacteria had significant antibiotic resistance, and when wounds or other internal tissues are infected opportunistically, treatment can be difficult. There is potential for MRSP in pets to be passed to humans, though the extent of this occurrence remains unknown. Further research is needed to define the role, if any, of MRSP in human infections. [MK]

Related articles:  
Ferreira, J. P., K. L. Anderson, et al. (2011). "Transmission of MRSA between Companion Animals and Infected Human Patients Presenting to Outpatient Medical Care Facilities." PLoS ONE 6(11): e26978.

More on cat health:
Winn Feline Foundation Library
Find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Read More

MRSA in Cats

Loeffler A, Pfeiffer DU, Lindsay JA et al: Prevalence of and risk factors for MRSA carriage in companion animals: a survey of dogs, cats and horses, Epidemiology and infection 139:1019, 2011.

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant health concern in people. Little is known about carriage of these bacteria in companion animals. The investigators tested healthy as well as ill animals at various animal facilities in the greater London area for MRSA. Out of nearly 1700 animals tested, including 540 cats, only 26 animals were found to be colonized with MRSA; of these, 8 were cats. In evaluating risk factors among animals for carriage of MRSA, the investigators found that it is rare among companion animals. They also concluded that animals from which MRSA can be cultured are likely contaminated from their human companions, and do not serve as reservoirs for the bacteria. [MK]

Related articles:  

Weese JS: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in animals, ILAR journal / National Research Council, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources 51:233, 2010.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Loeffler A, Pfeiffer DU, Lindsay JA et al: Prevalence of and risk factors for MRSA carriage in companion animals: a survey of dogs, cats and horses, Epidemiology and infection 139:1019, 2011.

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant health concern in people. Little is known about carriage of these bacteria in companion animals. The investigators tested healthy as well as ill animals at various animal facilities in the greater London area for MRSA. Out of nearly 1700 animals tested, including 540 cats, only 26 animals were found to be colonized with MRSA; of these, 8 were cats. In evaluating risk factors among animals for carriage of MRSA, the investigators found that it is rare among companion animals. They also concluded that animals from which MRSA can be cultured are likely contaminated from their human companions, and do not serve as reservoirs for the bacteria. [MK]

Related articles:  

Weese JS: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in animals, ILAR journal / National Research Council, Institute of Laboratory Animal Resources 51:233, 2010.

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter

Read More

Methicillin-resistant Staph infections in Cats

Faires MC, Tater KC, Weese JS: An investigation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in people and pets in the same household with an infected person or infected pet, J Am Vet Med Assoc 235:540, 2009.

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen that has been identified in humans, as well as dogs and cats. MRSA from humans may cause infections in pets, and pets may be sources of MRSA for human infection. In order to lessen the risk of transmission of MRSA between humans and pets, a better understanding of the role, if any, of pet-to-human transmission is needed. This report describes an investigation of the prevalence of MRSA in people and their pets within the same household in which MRSA infection was known to exist, and to compare the isolates identified within a household. Households in which MRSA infection had been identified in a pet within the past month (part 1), as well as households in which one or more persons had experienced >1 MRSA infection within the past year (part 2) were included. Nasal specimens from humans and nasal and rectal swabs from pets were collected and cultured for MRSA. In households with MRSA, both humans and pets, including cats, were found to be infected, and the isolates were indistinguishable whether from humans or pets. This indicated that cross-species infection could occur, though the direction (human to pets or vice versa) was not known. The authors speculate that humans were the most likely source for the pets, rather than the reverse as the isolates were related to community-associated human strains. In addition, the affected pets were not in contact with other animals, and thus likely contracted the MRSA from their human owners. [MK]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Epstein JH, Price JT. The significant but understudied impact of pathogen
transmission from humans to animals. Mt Sinai J Med. 2009 Oct;76(5):448-55.
>> PubMed Abstract

Springer B, Orendi U, Much P, Höger G, Ruppitsch W, Krziwanek K, Metz-Gercek S, Mittermayer H. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a new zoonotic agent? Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2009;121(3-4):86-90.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Tweet with us

Faires MC, Tater KC, Weese JS: An investigation of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization in people and pets in the same household with an infected person or infected pet, J Am Vet Med Assoc 235:540, 2009.

Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an important pathogen that has been identified in humans, as well as dogs and cats. MRSA from humans may cause infections in pets, and pets may be sources of MRSA for human infection. In order to lessen the risk of transmission of MRSA between humans and pets, a better understanding of the role, if any, of pet-to-human transmission is needed. This report describes an investigation of the prevalence of MRSA in people and their pets within the same household in which MRSA infection was known to exist, and to compare the isolates identified within a household. Households in which MRSA infection had been identified in a pet within the past month (part 1), as well as households in which one or more persons had experienced >1 MRSA infection within the past year (part 2) were included. Nasal specimens from humans and nasal and rectal swabs from pets were collected and cultured for MRSA. In households with MRSA, both humans and pets, including cats, were found to be infected, and the isolates were indistinguishable whether from humans or pets. This indicated that cross-species infection could occur, though the direction (human to pets or vice versa) was not known. The authors speculate that humans were the most likely source for the pets, rather than the reverse as the isolates were related to community-associated human strains. In addition, the affected pets were not in contact with other animals, and thus likely contracted the MRSA from their human owners. [MK]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Epstein JH, Price JT. The significant but understudied impact of pathogen
transmission from humans to animals. Mt Sinai J Med. 2009 Oct;76(5):448-55.
>> PubMed Abstract

Springer B, Orendi U, Much P, Höger G, Ruppitsch W, Krziwanek K, Metz-Gercek S, Mittermayer H. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus: a new zoonotic agent? Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2009;121(3-4):86-90.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
Join us on Facebook
Tweet with us

Read More