Frederick Adzitey, Nicholas Prah, Hafiz Salifu, David Yidana

Phenotypic Resistance of Staphylococcus aureus to Antibiotics in Dogs of Tamale Metropolis, Ghana

Introduction

Phenotypic resistance of staphylococcus aureus to antibiotics in dogs of tamale metropolis, ghana. Explore phenotypic antibiotic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus in healthy dogs in Tamale, Ghana. Reveals high multidrug resistance, posing a significant public health risk.

Abstract

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus is an important bacterium which induces a wide range of diseases. Its presence in dogs and resistance to antibiotics is a threat to public health due to the close association of humans with dogs. The aim of the present study was to determine the phenotypic resistance of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) to antibiotics in dogs without any clinical manifestation of diseases in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana. The current study also examined microbial load in these dogs. Materials and methods: A total of 120 samples from various parts of dogs, including the mouth, nose, anus, inner ear, and outer ear, were examined. Isolation and antibiotic resistance of S. aureus were determined using the USA Bacteriological Analytical Manual and the Disc Diffusion method, respectively. Results: The presence of S. aureus in the dogs ranged from 8.3% (anus) to 58.3% (nose), averaging 40%. The microbial load also ranged from 2.9 log cfu/cm2 (mouth) to 3.4 log cfu/cm2 (outer ear), with an average of 3.2 log cfu/cm2. There were significant differences among the examined samples regarding the presence of S. aureus, but not the microbial load. The overall resistance, intermediate resistance, and susceptibility of S. aureus were 46.2%, 12.9%, and 42.2%, respectively. The S. aureus was highly resistant to teicoplanin (88.0%) and susceptible to chloramphenicol (72.0%). The multiple antibiotic indexes ranged from 0 to 0.9, and 89.1% of the isolates exhibited multidrug resistance. Conclusion: The findings of the current study revealed that healthy dogs in Tamale Metropolis, Ghana, were carriers of S. aureus as well as other bacteria, and S. aureus exhibited different resistance patterns to antibiotics.

Review

The study investigates the phenotypic antibiotic resistance of *Staphylococcus aureus* in healthy dogs within the Tamale Metropolis, Ghana, a topic of significant public health concern given the close human-animal interface. The research aimed to determine *S. aureus* prevalence across various anatomical sites and its susceptibility to a panel of antibiotics, alongside assessing general microbial load. Utilizing standard microbiological techniques on 120 samples, the study successfully identified high carriage rates of *S. aureus* in these animals and detailed alarming levels of antibiotic resistance, including multidrug resistance. This work provides valuable regional data on an important zoonotic pathogen and highlights the potential role of healthy dogs as reservoirs for resistant bacteria. A notable strength of this study lies in its focus on healthy, apparently asymptomatic dogs, which effectively demonstrates their role as silent carriers of *S. aureus* and antibiotic resistance. The comprehensive sampling from multiple sites (mouth, nose, anus, inner and outer ear) offers a thorough understanding of *S. aureus* distribution within the canine host. The clear reporting of prevalence, overall resistance rates, and specific antibiotic resistance patterns (e.g., high resistance to teicoplanin and susceptibility to chloramphenicol) contributes significantly to local epidemiological data. The finding that 89.1% of isolates exhibited multidrug resistance is particularly concerning and underscores the urgent need for surveillance and intervention strategies. The study's geographic focus in Ghana also addresses a critical knowledge gap in a region where such data is often scarce. While the study presents crucial findings, the abstract indicates some areas that would benefit from further elaboration in the full manuscript. Although the microbial load was determined, the abstract notes "no significant differences" among samples, yet the conclusion broadly states healthy dogs carry "other bacteria." A deeper discussion on the implications of this non-significant difference, or characterization of these "other bacteria," would enhance clarity. The abstract also lacks specifics regarding the dog population sampled (e.g., ownership status, age, type of dog), which could influence carriage rates and exposure to antibiotics. Furthermore, a brief discussion within the abstract, or certainly the full paper, regarding potential local drivers for the observed high resistance, such as veterinary or human antibiotic usage practices, would strengthen the contextual understanding of these results. Future work building on these findings might explore the genetic basis of resistance and the zoonotic transmission potential more directly.

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