Isolation of methicilin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from cats and dogs at University Veterinary Hospital, Universiti Putra Malaysia

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aures (MRSA) is one of a major pathogen causing
nosocomial infections. Pet animals especially cats and dogs have emerged as potential reservoirs
for human infections. This study was conducted to know the occurrence of MRSA in pets (cats
and dogs) admitted to the university small animal hospital. To this end nasal and perennial swabs
were collected from 50 cats and 50 dogs. MRSA was isolated in 8% (8/100) of all the 100 pets
sampled at the university small animal hospital. Out of the 50 dogs sampled 10 %( 5/50) were
found to harbor MRSA and out of the 50 cats sampled 6 %( 3/50) were MRSA positive based on
bacteriological examinations. The percentage of isolation from the current study is quite higher
as compared to similar studies conducted earlier.