Genetic connections and antimicrobial resistance in dogs and owners Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates

The study's objective was to isolate <i>Staphylococcus pseudintermedius</i> from dogs with superficial pyoderma and/or recurrent otitis, and their guardians, to determine oxacillin, cefovecin, and gentamicin resistance, associated risk factors for infection, and genetic similarity between isolates from dogs and guardians. Prevalence of <i>S. pseudintermedius</i> in dogs was 76% and in humans was 56%, with concurrent identification in 44%. Oxacillin resistance occurred in 6.38% of dog isolates and 11.36% of isolates from guardians, with relatively strong (disk diffusion test) or moderate (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) association between phenotypic testing and <i>mecA</i> gene presence. For cefovecin, dog isolates presented resistance in 8.15% disk diffusion and 23.40% broth microdilution. In humans, 6.81 and 36.36% showed cefovecin resistance in disk diffusion and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration tests. Gentamicin resistance in dogs was identified in broth microdilution testing in 2.12%. <i>fnbB</i> was identified in 4.39% of isolates with relatively strong association between results of dogs and humans. Dogs sleeping with <i>S. pseudintermedius</i>-positive humans were 6 times more likely to test positive, and dogs attending grooming sessions were 4 times more likely positive for <i>S. pseudintermedius</i>. The whole genome sequencing revealed transmission between dogs and humans in 3 cases. Resistance genes for 8 antibiotic classes were found in chromosomal and plasmid genomes.