title: Genotypic relatedness and phenotypic characterization of Staphylococcus schleiferi subspecies in clinical samples from dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the degree of biological similarity (on the basis of genotype determined via pulsed-field gel electrophoresis [PFGE]) between isolates of 2 Staphylococcus schleiferi subspecies (S schleiferi subsp coagulans and S schleiferi subsp schleiferi) in clinical samples obtained from dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  161 S schleiferi isolates from 160 canine patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A commercial microbiology identification system was used to identify each isolate as S schleiferi. Isolates underwent slide and tube coagulase testing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A mecA PCR assay and a latex agglutination test for penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) were also performed on each isolate. Clonal clusters with a similarity cutoff value of 80% were identified via PFGE.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 161 isolates, 61 (38%), 79 (49%), and 21 (13%) were obtained from cutaneous sites, ears, and other sites, respectively; 110 (68%) were coagulase negative, and 51 (32%) were coagulase positive. Among the coagulase-negative and coagulase-positive isolates, 65% (71/110) and 39% (20/51) were oxacillin resistant, respectively. All oxacillin-resistant isolates yielded positive results via mecA PCR assay and PBP2a latex agglutination testing. Via PFGE, 15 major clusters and 108 individual pulsed-field profiles were identified. Oxacillin-resistant and oxacillin-susceptible isolates clustered separately. Clonal clusters were heterogeneous and contained representatives of both subspecies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative isolates were not genotypically distinct and may represent a single S schleiferi sp with variable coagulase production, rather than 2 biologically distinct subspecies. Further studies are needed to characterize clinical or epidemiological differences associated with infections with coagulase-positive and coagulase-negative S schleiferi in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies-Philadelphia, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. ccain7@utk.edu
authors.forename: Christine L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: Daniel O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: O'Shea
authors.forename: Shelley C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Rankin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003030:Coagulase; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000502:physiology; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005838:Genotype; D007841:Latex Fixation Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D003030:Coagulase