Breeder-reported patterns of antimicrobial use and point prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. among breeding bitches in the southwestern United States

Methicillin-resistant skin infections are an increasing concern in veterinary medicine, especially when found in juvenile dogs with no prior antimicrobial exposure. The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci in breeding bitches and survey antimicrobial administration by their breeders. A total of 17 breeders and 54 bitches were included. Bitches were housed in diverse environments throughout the Phoenix, Arizona, USA metropolitan region. Nasal and oral gingival swabs were submitted for selective culture. Methicillin-resistant was not present, while methicillin-resistant was found in only 1/54 (1.9%) dogs. Survey results revealed that 16 bitches, which did not include the 1 MRSP-positive dog, had received antimicrobials within 6 months prior to sampling. Regardless of the low point prevalence identified, veterinarians and breeders should be cognizant of risks for bacterial resistance with the overuse of antimicrobials.