A recent study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy reveals alarming findings regarding methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) prevalence among pets in Germany. Led by researchers from Freie Universitat Berlin, the study highlights a significantly higher occurrence of MRSA in lab samples from cats and dogs compared to those from people seeking outpatient care.
The research team analyzed data from 175,171 laboratory bacterial diagnostic samples obtained from 3,491 veterinary practices across Germany between January 2019 and December 2021. These samples, comprising blood, urine, and tissue from animals, represented approximately 33.1% of veterinary clinics in the country.
MRSA, known for causing mild to life-threatening illnesses, was found to be more prevalent in pets than in humans seeking outpatient care. Specifically, 17.8% of animal samples tested positive for MRSA, whereas only 5.4% of human outpatient samples showed the presence of the resistant bacteria during the same period.
The study underscores the urgent need for validation and regulation of veterinary antibiotic use to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) effectively. MRSA, categorized as a high-priority pathogen by the World Health Organization, poses significant health risks and was identified as the second-largest cause of attributable deaths and disability in Europe from 2016 to 2020.
Analysis of the data revealed that Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) was present in 3.2% of animal samples, with a higher prevalence in cats (5.6%) than dogs (2.0%). However, methicillin resistance was more prevalent in dogs (20.4%) compared to cats (15.6%). The overall MRSA rate remained consistent throughout the study period.
The researchers also noted that companion animals and humans often share similar lifestyle factors and living environments, leading to close physical interactions that may facilitate the transmission of bacteria. This includes activities such as hugs, kisses, and shared sleeping spaces, which could potentially contribute to the spread of MRSA.
Further breakdown of the data showed that MRSA was particularly prevalent in canine wounds, with a rate of 32% compared to under 23% in other sample types. Similar differences were not observed among different types of cat samples.
Among MRSA-positive samples, resistance to sulfamethoxazole plus trimethoprim and gentamicin was observed in 13% to 14% of cases, while resistance to chloramphenicol, doxycycline, and rifampicin was less common, occurring in under 6% of cases.
While farmed animals such as pigs have shown double the rate of MRSA compared to companion animals, the study authors highlighted that companion and farmed animals rarely interact in the German context.
In conclusion, the study emphasizes the need for enhanced surveillance and management strategies to curb MRSA transmission in veterinary settings, ensuring the health and safety of both animals and humans alike.
