Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance has developed as a major threat worldwide causing a serious risk to global public health. Infections with drug-resistant bacteria are quite challenging to treat with recommended antimicrobials. This retrospective study was conducted to analyse the antibacterial susceptibility pattern of Staphylococcus spp. bacteria isolated from canine patients from two veterinary hospitals in the Niagara Region in Ontario, Canada, from January 2015 to December 2021. The data included 1370 bacterial culture reports received from IDEXX laboratories, out of which 306 specimens (22.3%) were positive for Staphylococcus spp. The results showed that the most prevalent strain of Staphylococcus isolated is Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (48%), followed by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. (33%), Staphylococcus schleiferi (10%), Staphylococcus aureus (7%) and other Staphylococcus species (2%). The antibiotic susceptibility test results of Staphylococcal isolates revealed a high resistance pattern for beta-lactam antibiotics (32-80%), followed by tetracycline antibiotics (21-47%), macrolides (35-40%), chloramphenicol (15%), fluoroquinolones (28-29%) and the least resistance for amikacin (1%). The results also documented a high prevalence of multi-drug resistance in 55% of the Staphylococcus strains isolated. This study illustrates the antimicrobial resistance among Staphylococcus spp. from dogs in Ontario, Canada. Hence, the strict measures of antibiotic stewardship and judicious use of antimicrobials are highly mandated.