Background: Staphylococcus aureus and S. pseudintermedius are the two most common coagulase positive staphylococci (CPS). S. aureus is more prevalent among humans, whereas S. pseudintermedius is more commonly isolated from dogs, however, both can cause various community and hospital acquired diseases in humans. Methods: In the current study we screened 102 dogs and 84 owners in Hungary. We tested the antibiotic susceptibility of the strains and in order to get a better picture of the clonal relationship of the strains, we used pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. In addition, three pairs of isolates with identical PFGE patterns were whole genome sequenced, MLST and spa types were established. Results: Carriage rate of S. aureus was 23.8% in humans and 4.9% in dogs and two cases of co-carriage were found among dogs and owners. S. pseudintermedius carriage rate was 2.4% and 34.3%, respectively, with only one co-carriage. The isolates were generally rather susceptible to the tested antibiotics, but high tetracycline resistance of S. pseudintermedius strains was noted. The co-carried isolates shared almost the same resistance genes (including tet(K), bla(Z), norA, mepR, lmrS, fosB) and virulence gene pattern. Apart from the common staphylococcal enzymes and cytotoxins, we found enterotoxins and exfoliative toxins as well. The two S. aureus pairs belonged to ST45-t630, ST45-t671 and ST15-t084, ST15-t084, respectively. The co-carried S. pseudintermedius isolates shared the same housekeeping gene alleles determining a novel sequence type ST1685. Conclusions: Based on the genomic data, dog-owner co-carried strains displayed only insignificant differences therefore provided evidence for potential human-to-dog and dog-to-human transmission.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bearing the mecC gene (mecC-MRSA) has been reported from animals and humans in recent years. This study describes the first mecC-MRSA isolates of human and equine origin in Hungary (two isolates from horses and one from a veterinarian, who treated one of the infected horses, but was asymptomatic). MRSA isolates were identified by cultivation and PCR detection of the species-specific spa gene and mecA/mecC methicillin resistance genes. The isolates were characterized by antibiotic susceptibility testing, MLST, spa, SCCmec typing, PFGE and whole genome sequencing (WGS). All three isolates belonged to the ST130-t843-SCCmec XI genotype, and carried the mecC and blaZ genes. Apart from beta-lactam drugs, they were sensitive to all tested antibiotics. The isolates of the infected horse and its veterinarian had the same PFGE pulsotype and showed only slight differences with WGS. Hence, this is the first description of direct transmission of a mecC-carrying MRSA between a horse and its veterinarian. The emergence of mecC in the country highlights the importance of the appropriate diagnostics in MRSA identification.

Neisseria meningitidis is a bacterium that can cause high-mortality invasive infections. Asymptomatic carriage can serve as a source of infection. This study aimed to determine the meningococcal colonisation rate and risk factors for colonisation among children aged 1–6 years attending eight childcare institutions in three regions in the Northern part of Hungary. Oropharyngeal swab specimens were obtained from 180 children, and risk factors for carriage were assessed by questionnaires filled out by parents. qPCR was applied to detect meningococci and determine the serogroup. The meningococcal colonisation rate was 15.6% (28/180). One meningococcus detected belonged to serogroup X; all others were non-groupable meningococci. Meningococcal colonisation was significantly more prevalent among girls (21.5% vs. 9.2% in boys) and children living in the Central Transdanubia region. No significant association was found with other risk factors examined. According to the parental answers, 70.0% of the children were vaccinated against meningococcus; this might be an explanation for the absence of vaccine serogroups. This is the first study to examine meningococcal carriage among young children in Hungary.