Frequency, Distribution, and Antimicrobial Resistance of Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Clinical Samples in Dogs and Cats.

This study aimed to investigate the frequency, distribution, and antimicrobial resistance of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) obtained from clinical samples from dogs and cats and to classify any methicillin-resistant CoNS (MRCoNS). The samples were collected in 2017-2018, and species identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were routinely performed using the Vitek2 system. Among 1,056 staphylococci, 185 CoNS (17.5%) were obtained and included 18 species from dogs ( = 116) and 14 species from cats ( = 69). The predominant species were (31.4%) ssp. (16.2%), (10.8%), and (8.1%). The primary isolation sites were the skin and urinary tract. High levels of resistance to β-lactams (65.4%), tetracycline (44.3%), clindamycin (36.8%), and erythromycin (30.8%) were observed. Twenty-five MRCoNS (13.4%), mainly ( = 8), ( = 6), and ssp. ( = 5), were identified. SCC type V ( = 8) was the most common type, followed by SCC type IV ( = 6) and SCC type III ( = 2), whereas nontypable SCC were classified into nine MRCoNS. Some CoNS have been recorded in humans, and these might be transferred to and cause subsequent infections in humans. Moreover, the diversity of SCC types and resistant strains suggested that they may serve as a reservoir of resistance genes among staphylococci.