This study presents the first documented case in which multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus sciuri was isolated from the urinary tract of a domestic rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Romania. It highlights the clinical significance of S. sciuri as an opportunistic pathogen and its antimicrobial resistance profile. The successful treatment of the animal through a combination of bladder lavage and targeted antibiotic therapy underscores the importance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing in exotic pet medicine.
Literature Overview
This article, titled 'Case Report: First Report of Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus sciuri Isolated from the Urinary Bladder of a Domestic Rabbit in Romania: A Case Study', published in the journal Antibiotics, reviews and summarizes a rabbit infection case in which the isolated S. sciuri demonstrated resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents but remained susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The study emphasizes the shift of this bacterial species from a traditional commensal to an opportunistic pathogen, offering new insights into the spread of antimicrobial resistance.
Background Knowledge
Staphylococcus sciuri belongs to the coagulase-negative staphylococci and has traditionally been considered a commensal organism in animals and the environment. However, in recent years, it has been found to carry homologs of the mecA gene located on SCCmec genetic elements, making it a potential reservoir for antimicrobial resistance genes associated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Furthermore, S. sciuri has been linked to diseases such as urinary tract infections, wound infections, and bacteremia in both humans and animals, indicating its zoonotic potential. In domestic rabbits, this bacterial species has not been extensively studied, especially in the context of urinary infections. Thus, this study provides crucial antimicrobial resistance data and fills a research gap in the field within Romania and Eastern Europe.
Research Methods and Experiments
A clinical evaluation, ultrasound imaging, and cystocentesis were performed on a 7-year-old healthy female rabbit. The pathogen was identified as S. sciuri through bacterial culture, MALDI-TOF MS identification, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the VITEK 2 system, which was used to determine its resistance profile. An intervention strategy was implemented involving trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole treatment combined with ultrasound-guided bladder lavage and supportive care.
Key Conclusions and Perspectives
Research Significance and Prospects
This study provides clinical evidence of the pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus sciuri in domestic rabbits, and recommends increased surveillance of rabbits as potential reservoirs of resistance genes. Future studies may expand to different regions and animal species to analyze the molecular characteristics of resistance genes and virulence factors, and to explore the evolutionary dynamics and host adaptation through genomic approaches.
Conclusion
This study represents the first report of multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus sciuri isolated from the urinary bladder of a domestic rabbit in Romania, highlighting its clinical significance as an opportunistic pathogen. The findings support the importance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing in exotic pet medicine and suggest that rabbits may serve as potential hosts in the transmission of antimicrobial resistance. Further epidemiological investigations across different hosts and environments are warranted, and genomic analyses should be employed to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying resistance and virulence genes, providing scientific support for antimicrobial stewardship.
