Original Scientific Article
Phenotypic and molecular characterization of antimicrobial resistance in canine Staphylococci from North Macedonia
Ivana Shikoska * ,
Zagorka Popova Hristovska ,
Ivan Matevski ,
Maja Jurhar Pavlova ,
Marija Ratkova Manovska ,
Aleksandar Cvetkovikj ,
Iskra Cvetkovikj

Mac Vet Rev 2025; 48 (2): i - xiv

10.2478/macvetrev-2025-0022

Received: 10 March 2025

Received in revised form: 14 January 2025

Accepted: 20 March 2025

Available Online First: 30 April 2025

Published on: 15 October 2025

Correspondence: Ivana Shikoska, ivana@fvm.ukim.edu.mk
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Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Staphylococcus spp. is a growing problem in small animal practice, driven by the emergence of methicillin-resistant (MR) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. This study analyzed 170 clinical Staphylococcus isolates from dogs in North Macedonia, using MALDI-TOF MS identification, disc diffusion susceptibility testing, and molecular detection of resistance genes ( mecA, mecC, and blaZ). Staphylococcus pseudintermedius was identified as the most prevalent species (90%), followed by S. aureus (7.6%), S. hemolyticus (1.2%), S. schleiferi (0.6%), and S. intermedius (0.6%). Methicillin resistance was detected in 28.8% of the isolates by detecting mecA. Importantly, there was a significant discrepancy between phenotypic oxacillin resistance and mecA-positive isolates in S. pseudintermedius. Among the 49 mecA-negative but oxacillin-resistant isolates tested for blaZ, 65.3% were blaZ-positive, underscoring the critical role of beta-lactamase-mediated resistance. Overall, MDR was detected in 70.5% of isolates. High resistance was observed to multiple antibiotics, including penicillin G (73%) and clindamycin (61.8%), as well as critically important antibiotics (CIAs), such as fluoroquinolones, with resistance rates of 32.3% for enrofloxacin and 31.2% for marbofloxacin. Pradofloxacin showed the lowest resistance rate (22.3%). This study highlights the high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus spp. in dogs. Implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programs is critical to maintain the efficacy of key antimicrobials and ensure optimal treatment outcomes for companion animals in North Macedonia.

Keywords: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, companion animals, methicillin resistance, beta-lactam resistance, multi-drug resistance

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Copyright

©2025 Shikoska I. This is an open-access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared that they have no potential conflict of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Citation Information

Macedonian Veterinary Review. Volume 48, Issue 2, Pages i-xiv, e-ISSN 1857-7415, p-ISSN 1409-7621, DOI:  https://doi.org/10.2478/macvetrev-2025-0022

The all content of the Macedonian Veterinary Review, except where otherwise noted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.