Abstract
Background:
Worldwide, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major nosocomial pathogen responsible for various infections in humans and animals.

Aim:
This study aimed to determine the prevalence and molecular characteristics of MRSA isolates in healthy pets, specifically cats and dogs.

Methods:
In this study, swab samples were collected from 135 healthy pets, including 100 cats and 35 dogs. The samples were analyzed using standard microbiology and molecular methods.

Results:
The results showed the detection of MRSA in nostril isolates at a total rate of 23.2% (13/56) from both cats and dogs through the detection mecA gene. The prevalence rate was different in cats and dogs and it was 22% (9/41) and 27% (4/15), respectively. The same isolates were cefoxitin-positive and oxacillin-resistant. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool analysis of partial mecA sequences revealed 100% similarity with mecA genes from human Staphylococcus aureus isolates. All 13 mecA sequences exhibited identical results. Two partial mecA sequences from this study have been deposited in GenBank under accession numbers PQ881807 and PQ881808. The MRSA isolates only displayed staphylococcal cassette chromosome types I and IV (a and b). The results also showed a high prevalence of certain virulence factors, such as hemolysins, across the isolates and multidrug-resistant MRSA isolates among both cats and dogs.

Conclusion:
This study is the first to confirm the occurrence of MRSA among Duhok pets. The findings suggest the role of healthy animals as reservoirs of multidrug-resistant MRSA and highlight the potential threat of zoonotic transmission of MRSA between pets and humans.

Key words: Keywords: MRSA, Healthy pets, Nasal carriage, Multi-resistant MRSA, Duhok