Abstract
In veterinary medicine, the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics has been increasing. The prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) in dogs is now increasingly common all over the world, and has also become a serious issue in veterinary dermatology practice in Japan. In the present study, we surveyed nasal carriage of MRSP and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in 104 healthy dogs in Japan, and compared the results with those of 102 patient dogs under secondary veterinary medical care. Nasal carriage rates of MRSP in healthy and patient dogs were 4.8% and 21.6%, respectively, and that of patient dogs was a significantly higher value (p<0.001), suggesting that patient dogs under secondary veterinary medical care were under antibiotic selective pressure. The MRSP carriage rate in healthy dogs in Japan was similar to those reported overseas. MRSA nasal carriage rates in healthy and patient dogs were 0% and 1.96%, respectively, with no significant difference between the two (p=0.244). Under antibiotic selective pressures, MRSA carriage rate in dogs didn’t increase significantly, suggesting that dogs have low potential as a reservoir of MRSA.
