Abstract

Background:
Staphylococcus aureus is a significant microorganism in both human and veterinary medicine due to its ability to colonize mucosal surfaces, particularly the nasal cavity, and its potential to cause opportunistic infections in domestic cats. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is a new strain of S. aureus with multidrug-resistance (MDR) characteristics and is resistant to β-lactam antibiotics. Companion animals are classified as potential reservoirs of MRSA. In this study, 150 cats were brought to veterinary clinics and animal hospitals in Surabaya for routine check-ups or medical treatment. Cats were not selected based on the presence of clinical symptoms, allowing for the identification of both symptomatic and asymptomatic carriers. Swab samples were collected from the nasal cavities using sterile cotton swabs under aseptic conditions. This approach enabled the assessment of MRSA colonization.

Aim:
This study aimed to detect the tst gene that produces toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 (TSST-1) from MRSA isolates in cats.

Methods:
A total of 150 nose swab samples were collected from cats visiting veterinary clinics and hospitals as pet patients spread over Surabaya, Indonesia. Amies Medium Transport was used to swab the noses of the samples, and the microbiological standard procedure was used for identification. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were subjected to an antibiotic resistance test using the Kirby-Bauer diffusion method by streaking a bacterial suspension according to a 0.5 McFarland standard, then five different antibiotic discs on Mueller-Hinton Agar. Cefoxitin-resistant S. aureus isolates grew on Oxacillin Resistance Screening Agar Base (ORSAB) as a confirmatory test for MRSA.

Results:
There were 18 (12%) S. aureus isolates identified and isolated. The antibiotic resistance test results revealed 7 (38.88%) MDR isolates; there were 3 (16.66%) MDR of S. aureus isolates and 4 (22.22%) MDR of S. aureus isolates that were ORSAB positive; there were MDR and MRSA isolates. 4 MRSA isolates (22.22%) were subjected to molecular detection.

Conclusion:
Polymerase chain reaction 1 (5.55%) of the MRSA isolate was test gene positive at 143 bp. This indicates that cats may be a potential source of transmission to humans and endanger public health.

Key words: Antibiotic; Cats; MRSA; Public health; TSST-1.