Phenotypic Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Clinical Samples of Dogs and Their Owners in Buwaya, Gonin-gora, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are multidrug resistant pathogen of public health concern. It had been reportedly transmitted between individuals and pets in the community. In this study, MRSA was phenotypically detected among dogs and their owners in a small community (Buwaya) in Kaduna state, Nigeria.  A total of 63 nasal samples were collected from both dogs and their owners, culture, microscopy and biochemical tests were used to isolate and identify Staphylococcus aureus from the samples. Detection of MRSA isolates was carried out using cefoxitin disc sensitivity testing, a surrogate marker for methicillin resistance. Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method was used for antibiotics testing.The following organisms were isolated: Staphylococcus aureus 13(20.6%), E. coli 14 (22.2%), Coagulase negative Staphylococci 21 (33.3%), Shigella spp 13 (20.6%) and Micrococcus spp 2(3.2%). All the four S. aureus isolates from the dogs were positive for methicillin resistance while 6(66%) of the owners were methicillin resistance positive which showed a total MRSA prevalence of 76.9%. Chloramphenicol (90%) was the most active of all the antibiotics tested followed by cotrimoxazole (80%), doxycycline (70%), ciprofloxacin (70%), gentamicin 60%). The highest level of resistance of the phenotypic MRSA isolates was observed to penicillin (100%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (100%) and tetracycline (30%). In conclusion an alarming phenotypic MRSA prevalence of 76.9% was observed among dogs and their owners, the possibility of transmission of MRSA strains between pets and humans was also observed.