Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Antibiotic resistance in Staph from dogs with ear infections
By Ionela Popa et al.·Published in Antibiotics·2025·Department of Semiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I”, 300645 Timişoara, Romania, CH·View original on DOAJ →
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Original publication title: Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Staphylococcus schleiferi</i> Isolated from Dogs with Otitis Externa and Healthy Dogs
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that a group of dogs with ear infections (otitis externa) had lower rates of a common bacteria called Staphylococcus aureus compared to healthy dogs. While healthy dogs had a higher prevalence of this bacteria, many of them also carried strains resistant to antibiotics, including some that are particularly concerning (MRSA). In dogs with ear infections, a significant number showed resistance to penicillin and other drugs. This highlights the importance of testing for antibiotic resistance in pets to ensure effective treatment and prevent the spread of resistant bacteria.
People also search for: dog ear infection treatment · antibiotic resistance in dogs · MRSA in healthy dogs
Abstract
<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in companion animals is a growing One Health concern due to the close interaction between pets and humans. <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>S. aureus</i>) and <i>Staphylococcus schleiferi</i> (<i>S. schleiferi</i>) are common colonizers of the canine ear canal and can act as reservoirs of resistance. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of <i>S. aureus</i> and <i>S. schleiferi</i> isolated from dogs with otitis externa and clinically healthy dogs in western Romania. <b>Methods</b>: A total of 973 canine ear swabs were collected, 503 from dogs with otitis externa and 470 from healthy dogs. Isolates were identified using MALDI-TOF MS. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the VITEK<sup>®</sup> 2 Compact system, bioMérieux, Marcy-l’Étoile, France, and interpreted according to CLSI VET01 guidelines, with 13 antimicrobials representing multiple drug classes. <b>Results</b>: <i>S. aureus</i> was more prevalent in healthy dogs (20%) than in otitis cases (4%), while <i>S. schleiferi</i> was more common in otitic samples (7.5% vs. 4%). Among <i>S. aureus</i> isolates from otitic dogs, penicillin resistance was highest (65%), and 25% were multidrug-resistant (MDR). In healthy dogs, <i>S. aureus</i> showed 54.3% penicillin resistance and 16% MDR prevalence. Four MRSA strains (4.3%) were identified only in healthy dogs. <i>S. schleiferi</i> exhibited the highest resistance to clindamycin, with MDR rates of 10.6% in otitic and 5.6% in healthy dogs. No MRSS strains were detected. <b>Conclusions</b>: Clinically healthy dogs may serve as asymptomatic carriers of resistant <i>Staphylococcus</i> strains, including MRSA. Routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing is essential to inform treatment choices and mitigate resistance dissemination within veterinary and public health contexts.
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Search related cases →Original publication on DOAJ: https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14121194