Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is an important cause of wound infections in companion animals, and infections with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) are of particular concern due to limited treatment options and their zoonotic potentials. The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in open wounds in dogs brought for routine veterinary care in Jos and environs. Only coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus isolates were used to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility using 8 antibiotics. These were found to be resistant to 4 antimicrobials; penicillin, methicillin, cefoxitin and oxacillin, at the concentrations tested. Suggesting that, the Staphylococcus aureus were methicillin resistant phenotypes. However, the isolates also showed sensitive and intermediate susceptibility to gentamicin, with only one coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus isolate showing resistance to gentamicin. Similarly, the results on kanamycin susceptibility indicated majority of the isolates were susceptible, with only one isolate showing intermediate susceptibility, however few of the isolates were resistant. All the isolates showed resistance to cephalothin. Similarly, resistance to neomycin was observed in almost all the isolates, except two isolates, that were found to be sensitive. Sensitivity to ceftiofur was observed in 10 out of the 13 isolates; remaining 3 isolates were resistant to ceftiofur. The results showed that methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus occurred in open wounds in dogs and could be a recurring issue in clinical management of wound infections in dogs, and a risk to public health.