Isolation of Staphylococcus schleiferi from healthy dogs and dogs with otitis, pyoderma, or both.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the frequency of isolation and susceptibility patterns of Staphylococcus schleiferi from healthy dogs and dogs with otitis, pyoderma, or both that had or had not received antimicrobial treatment.


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
50 dogs.


METHODS
Dogs were allocated to 1 of 4 groups: healthy dogs (n=13), dogs without otitis but with pyoderma (10), dogs with otitis but without pyoderma (11), and dogs with otitis and pyoderma (16). Bacteriologic culture of ear swab specimens was performed in all dogs. Bacteriologic culture of skin swab specimens was also performed in dogs with concurrent pyoderma. Isolates were identified as S schleiferi subsp schleiferi or S schleiferi subsp coagulans on the basis of growth and biochemical characteristics.


RESULTS
S schleiferi was not isolated from any dogs with pyoderma only. Staphylococcus schleiferi subsp schleiferi was isolated from the ears of 2 healthy dogs, and the skin and ears of 2 dogs and the skin of 1 dog with otitis and pyoderma. Staphylococcus schleiferi subsp coagulans was isolated from the ears of 3 dogs with otitis only, and the ears of 6 dogs and the skin of 2 dogs with otitis and pyoderma. One of the S schleiferi subsp schleiferi isolates from ears, 2 of the S schleiferi subsp coagulans isolates from ears, and 1 of the S schleiferi subsp coagulans isolates from the skin were resistant to methicillin. One methicillin-resistant isolate from the ears and 1 from the skin were also resistant to fluoroquinolones.


CONCLUSIONS
S schleiferi subsp schleiferi was detected in healthy dogs and dogs with otitis and pyoderma. Methicillin-resistant and -susceptible S schleiferi subsp schleiferi and S schleiferi subsp coagulans were detected as the predominant organisms in dogs with otitis.
May
Elizabeth R
ER
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996-4544, USA.
Hnilica
Keith A
KA
Frank
Linda A
LA
Jones
Rebekah D
RD
Bemis
David A
DA
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002353:Carrier State / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D008712:Methicillin / Q000494:pharmacology; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D010031:Otitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011711:Pyoderma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013207:Staphylococcal Skin Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008712:Methicillin