Population genomics of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in companion animals in the United States

Methicillin resistant S. pseudintermedius (MRSP) is an emerging opportunistic pathogen in veterinary settings, with recent reports of animal-to-human transmission. This study provides a fine-scale resolution of the genomic structure of S. pseudintermedius isolated from companion animals in the New England region, USA. There is also remarkable variation among populations spanning two distinct USA populations. This study has important implications for all avenues of disease control in companion animals, including epidemiological surveillance, antimicrobial therapy and vaccination. Because many antibiotic classes used to treat pets are the same as those that are employed in human medicine, additional selective pressure on S. pseudintermedius exists. This study highlights the important role of companion animals as a major reservoir and carriers of bacterial resistance, virulence and other accessory genes that contribute to S. pseudintermedius' success as a pathogen.