RESUMEN

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococci (MRS) cause infections at various sites and exhibit multidrug resistance. Despite their importance in veterinary medicine, only little is known about Staphylococcus spp. colonizing and infecting cats. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to isolate and identify Staphylococcus spp. colonizing hospitalized and non-hospitalized domestic cats and analyze their antimicrobial resistance profiles, genetic diversity, and risk factors associated with MRS colonization. A total of 218 oral and axillary swabs were obtained from 109 cats, including 77 non-hospitalized and 32 hospitalized cats. After plating on selective media, the isolates were identified via matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and rpoB and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Subsequently, antimicrobial sensitivity of the strains was assessed, and they were screened for mecA gene. Methicillin-resistant S. haemolyticus (MRSH) isolates were subjected to multilocus sequence typing, whereas methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) and S. felis isolates were subjected to whole genome sequencing. S. felis was most commonly isolated from non-hospitalized cats (28.1%), whereas S. pseudintermedius and MRS were commonly isolated from hospitalized cats (25%). MRSH isolates from hospitalized animals were classified as ST3. The identified MRSP strains belonged to two well-known sequence types, ST551 and ST71. Moreover, antimicrobial use (p = 0.0001), hospitalization (p = 0.0141), and comorbidities (p = 0.002) were associated with increased MRS prevalence in cats.

Asunto(s)

Enfermedades de los Gatos , Variación Genética , Infecciones Estafilocócicas , Animales , Gatos/microbiología , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/microbiología , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/veterinaria , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/epidemiología , Brasil , Enfermedades de los Gatos/microbiología , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Staphylococcus/genética , Staphylococcus/efectos de los fármacos , Staphylococcus/aislamiento & purificación , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/genética , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/efectos de los fármacos , Staphylococcus aureus Resistente a Meticilina/aislamiento & purificación , Femenino , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Masculino , ARN Ribosómico 16S/genética , Resistencia a la Meticilina/genética , Hospitalización , Proteínas Bacterianas/genética , Tipificación de Secuencias Multilocus

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Marmosets (Callithrix sp.), including black-tuffed marmosets (C. penicillata), are neotropical primates that can be highly adapted to urban environments, especially parks and forested areas near cities. Staphylococcus spp. are part of the microbiota of many different hosts and lead to opportunistic severe infection. Isolates from wild animals can be resistant to antimicrobial drugs. However, there are a few studies that evaluated Staphylococcus spp. in neotropical primates. The goal of this study was to evaluate Staphylococcus spp. isolated from free-ranging black-tuffed marmosets. METHODS: Marmosets were captured in six urban parks. After sedation, skin and rectal swabs and feces were sampled. Staphylococcus spp. isolates were identified by MALDI-ToF and their antimicrobial susceptibility was determined. RESULTS: Over 30% of captured individuals were positive for Staphylococcus spp., and S. aureus was the most isolated species followed by Mammaliicoccus (Staphylococcus) sciuri. With the exception of the marmoset subjected to necropsy, none of the other had lesions, which supports that notion that Staphylococcus spp. are members of the microbiota, but also opportunistic pathogens. Most isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested; however, one isolate of S. epidermidis was resistant to multiple antimicrobials (penicillin, cefoxitin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, and erythromycin). We considered S. aureus as the main staphylococci to colonize black-tuffed marmosets. CONCLUSIONS: Black-tuffed marmosets can be colonized by several Staphylococcus species, most frequently by S. aureus, and the majority of isolates were sensible to the antimicrobials tested. One S. epidermidis isolate was considered multidrug resistant.

Asunto(s)

Antibacterianos , Callithrix , Enfermedades de los Monos , Infecciones Estafilocócicas , Staphylococcus , Animales , Callithrix/microbiología , Staphylococcus/efectos de los fármacos , Staphylococcus/aislamiento & purificación , Enfermedades de los Monos/microbiología , Enfermedades de los Monos/epidemiología , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/veterinaria , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/microbiología , Infecciones Estafilocócicas/epidemiología , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Femenino , Farmacorresistencia Bacteriana , Masculino , Microbiota/efectos de los fármacos , Ciudades , Brasil/epidemiología , Heces/microbiología

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the fecal shedding of C. difficile in calves on farms in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fecal samples (n = 300) were collected from diarrheic (n = 78) and nondiarrheic (n = 222) calves less than 60 days of age from 20 farms. Fecal samples were inoculated into enrichment broth supplemented with taurocholate and cultured under anaerobic conditions. Colonies suspected to be C. difficile were harvested for DNA extraction and then multiplex PCR for the detection of genes encoding toxins A and B and binary toxins. All toxigenic isolates were ribotyped and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility, and five selected strains were subjected to whole-genome sequencing to determine their sequence type. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: C. difficile was isolated from 29.3 % (88/300) of the samples. All toxigenic isolates (17/88, 19.3 %) were classified as ribotypes RT046 (13/17-79.47 %, A+B+ CDT-) and RT126 (4/17 = 20.53 %, A+B+ CDT+). The sequenced strains from RT046 were classified as ST35 (Clade 1), while those from RT126 were classified as ST11 (Clade 5). No associations between the epidemiological factors in any of the groups and C. difficile isolation were observed. Most of the toxigenic isolates (16/17 = 94.41 %) were classified as multidrug-resistant. Calves can be an important source of toxigenic C. difficile strains, including multidrug-resistant isolates from ribotypes commonly observed in humans.

Asunto(s)

Enfermedades de los Bovinos , Clostridioides difficile , Infecciones por Clostridium , Heces , Ribotipificación , Clostridioides difficile/genética , Clostridioides difficile/aislamiento & purificación , Clostridioides difficile/clasificación , Clostridioides difficile/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Bovinos , Brasil/epidemiología , Heces/microbiología , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/microbiología , Enfermedades de los Bovinos/epidemiología , Infecciones por Clostridium/veterinaria , Infecciones por Clostridium/microbiología , Infecciones por Clostridium/epidemiología , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Derrame de Bacterias , Diarrea/microbiología , Diarrea/veterinaria , Diarrea/epidemiología , Toxinas Bacterianas/genética , Secuenciación Completa del Genoma

RESUMEN

Despite the known importance of vaccines as one of the greatest achievements in medical science, vaccine hesitancy has been increasing in the last decade and has become a major threat to global health. The growth of vaccine hesitancy worldwide became more evident with the onset of COVID-19 and raised the fear that this hesitancy would also impact companion animal vaccination. This study aimed to characterize vaccine-hesitant groups regarding companion animals and human vaccinations, as well as to explore the possible association between vaccine hesitancy in pets and their owners. An anonymous online survey containing 27 closed questions was conducted, including questions about dog health, such as vaccination, neutering, and homeopathy use, as well as questions about the COVID-19 vaccination status of the owner and motivations for vaccinating or not vaccinating their pets. Most participants (81.5 %) reported receiving three or more doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. Not vaccinating against COVID-19 or having an incomplete vaccination protocol was associated with an increase in the age range of participants (odds ratio [OR] = 1.43), not having higher education (OR = 7.70), and being in extreme income ranges (less than two minimum wages [OR = 7.57] and more than 10 [OR = 5.20]). The use of homeopathy in humans (OR = 3.24) and dogs (OR = 3.74) was associated with non-vaccination against COVID-19. Owners who were not fully vaccinated against COVID-19 were almost six times more likely to not vaccinate their dogs (OR = 5.94). Non-vaccination of dogs was also associated with non-neutering (OR = 3.56), keeping the dog in contact with other dogs (OR = 2.09), and an increase in the number of dogs in the house increased the chance of not vaccinating the animals (OR = 1.30). The present study revealed a strong association between non-vaccination against COVID-19 and non-vaccination in companion dogs, raising the hypothesis that vaccination hesitancy is a growing challenge in veterinary medicine. In addition, the characteristics of Brazilians who are reluctant to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or immunize their companion animals are described here for the first time.

Asunto(s)

Vacunas contra la COVID-19 , COVID-19 , Enfermedades de los Perros , Vacunación , Animales , Perros , Humanos , COVID-19/prevención & control , COVID-19/veterinaria , Vacunas contra la COVID-19/administración & dosificación , Enfermedades de los Perros/prevención & control , Oportunidad Relativa , Vacunación/veterinaria

RESUMEN

Pyometra, characterized by the accumulation of purulent exudate in the uterus, is the most prevalent reproductive disease in canines. While the disease often begins with mild local symptoms, it can escalate into peritonitis, sepsis, and multi-organ dysfunction, thereby posing a significant threat to life. Despite the high incidence and recognized significance of canine pyometra, gaps persist in our understanding of its epidemiology, etiology, and pathogenesis. Recent studies have, however, broadened our comprehension of this disease, shedding light on potential new infection sources, etiologies, and the application of clinical predictive biomarkers and new therapeutic protocols. This study aimed to review the current understanding of canine pyometra, with particular emphasis on the latest research concerning its etiology and epidemiology. Furthermore, it addressed key research questions and proposed directions for future investigations into various facets of canine pyometra.