Antimicrobial resistance attributes of staphylococci isolated from rabbits

Out of total 158 samples 86 staphylococci were isolated, the samples (tracheal swabs and vaginal swabs, and liver) were collected from diseased and dead rabbits. Results of bacteriological examination revealed that 38/158 (24.1%), and 48 /158 (54.4%) of isolates were coagulase positive and coagulase negative strains, respectively. Investigating the phenotypic antibiotic resistance patterns of isolates by using disc diffusion method revealed that 100%, 39.5%, and 28.9% of coagulase positive isolates showed resistance to methicillin, tetracycline, and oxacillin, while 83.3%, 66.7%, and 50% of coagulase negative isolates showed resistance to the aforementioned antibiotics, respectively. Furthermore, the genotypic attributes for biofilm formation was tested by PCR and revealed that 60.5% of coagulase positive isolates were carriers of icaA gene and sdrD gene, and that 83.3% and 50% of coagulase negative isolates were carriers of icaA gene and sdrD gene, respectively. All, 86/86 (100%) of isolated staphylococci were positive for mecA gene. PCR revealed that 39.5%, 60.5%, and 0% of coagulase positive isolates were positive for hlg, coA, and spaA genes, and meanwhile 50%, 33.3%, and 33.3% of coagulase negative isolates were positive for the same studied virulence genes. Thus, it was concluded that rabbits may represent a potential source for dissemination of staphylococci spp that are carriers for virulence and antibiotic resistance genes, imposing a high public health risk to the exposed human, animals and environment .