Loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay coupled with lateral flow dipstick for the rapid detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius from dogs.

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a global animal pathogen. Traditional identification methods are time-consuming necessitating a more efficient approach. This study validated and enhanced the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique by integration it with a lateral flow dipstick (LFD) assay for the detection of S. pseudintermedius and methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) strains. Conventional identification methods were compared with LAMP and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The isolates were tested for MRSP detection using oxacillin and cefoxitin disk diffusion tests alongside the LAMP assay targeting the mecA gene, a marker for methicillin resistance. Results showed that LAMP combined with LFD effectively detected S. pseudintermedius and MRSP. This study identified 53 isolates as S. pseudintermedius by conventional and LAMP methods, with MALDI-TOF MS correctly identifying 39.62% (21/53). The mecA gene, crucial for methicillin resistance, was detected in all PCR-positive isolates (n = 33) by LAMP, while the disk diffusion method identified 69.70% (23/33) of mecA-positive strains. LAMP and conventional methods exhibited superior accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity (all 100%) compared to MALDI-TOF MS, which showed lower sensitivity (39.62%) for S. pseudintermedius identification. Similarly, the LAMP assay demonstrated higher accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity (all 100%) for MRSP detection compared to the disk diffusion method (83.33%, 69.70%, and 94.87%, respectively). The LAMP assay coupled with the LFD method proved suitable for routine bacterial identification in laboratories, offering adequate sensitivity and specificity with simple steps and short reaction time.