Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Methicillin-resistant Staph bacteria found in healthy dogs' eyes
By Mouney, Meredith C et al.·Published in Veterinary ophthalmology·2015·Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. in the conjunctival sac of healthy dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that only 1.6% of healthy dogs had methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRS) bacteria in their eyes, which is a very low rate. Two dogs were tested, one showing MRS in their eye and the other in their rectum. This suggests that while dogs can carry these bacteria in their eyes, it's not common among healthy pets. If you're concerned about your dog's eye health or potential infections, it's a good idea to discuss this with your veterinarian.
People also search for: dog eye infection treatment · healthy dog bacteria in eyes · methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus in dogs
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of selected coagulase-positive methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRS) in the conjunctival sac in a group of healthy dogs and to compare the prevalence of ocular MRS colonization with colonization of typically assessed body sites including the nasal cavity and rectum. ANIMALS STUDIED: 123 healthy dogs were used in the prevalence study: 40 dogs from a shelter and 83 privately owned dogs. PROCEDURES: The sampling procedure included culturing three separate sites per subject in the following order: the lower conjunctival fornices, the nares, and rectum. RESULTS: A low prevalence of 1.6% (2/123) of MRS was detected in healthy dogs. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was isolated from two dogs, one from a conjunctival swab and the other from a rectal swab. CONCLUSION: The survey data indicate the ocular surface is a potential site of MRS colonization, although the prevalence was low in healthy dogs.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24299189/