Prevalence of the blaZ gene in antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus isolated from dogs
| Date |
|---|
2015-04-24 |
Bibliogr.: p. 22
The resistance to antimicrobial agents is an increasingly global problem [1]. Staphylococcus (staph) bacteria are all around us in an intimate way since it normally lives on the skin and mucous membranes of both people and dogs alike. However, antibiotic resistant Staphylococcus including penicillin-resistant can cause serious health problems. Two mechanisms confer penicillin resistance in staphylococci. The most important is production of β-lactamase, which inactivates penicillin by hydrolysis of its β-lactam ring. BlaZ-encoded penicillin resistance has been thoroughly investigated. The genes (the structural gene blaZ, its repressor gene blaI, and a signal transducer-sensor protein, encoded by blaR1) are clustered together. Four types of blaZ product (A, B, C, D) have been distinguished by serotyping and differences in hydrolysis of selected b-lactam substrates. Types A, C and D are usually located on plasmids, whereas type B typically resides in the chromosome. The results of previous research studies suggest that blaZ is the main mechanism of penicillin resistance in staphylococci [2]. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence and frequency of the blaZ gene in penicilin-resistant Staphylococcus isolated from healthy dogs. We chose dogs from animal shelters to assess whether there is a danger to the working staff and people who adopt animals. Samples were collected from nasal mucosa of 18 healthy dogs. Detection of blaZ gene was performed by PCR. 13 (72,22%) isolates revealed positive results. The bacteria genus Staphylococcus is one of the most prevalent in animals and humans [3]. BlaZ gene is only one of many other genes (mecA, ermA, ermC, tetK, tetM etc.) that are responsible for resistance to different antibiotics. Due to the zoonotic potential of resistant bacteria and the close contact of pets with their owners, investigations on the presumptive transmission and infection routes of different bacterial species should be performed.