title: The occurrence and comparative phenotypic characteristics of Staphylococcus spp. from healthy and diseased, household and shelter dogs, based on routine biochemical diagnostic methods.
abstract: To determine the staphylococcal colonization pattern in healthy and diseased dogs, living in two particular environments, a number of microbiological samples were taken. Overall, twenty dogs, either healthy or with infected skin lesions, were examined. In each case bacterial swabs were collected from the nasal mucosa, ear, perineum, lumbo-sacralis triangle, and from the infection sites if such were present. A total number of 104 isolates representing different staphylococcal species were isolated and identified using routine biochemical methods applied in diagnostic laboratories. Among 17 isolated staphylococcal species, Staphylococcus intermedius was the most common species isolated from both healthy or diseased dogs living either in animal shelter or household environments. The pattern of Staphylococcus sp. colonization differs considerably for animals living in the two tested habitats. In particular, S. aureus MRSA and MSSA isolates were detected only in infected skin lesion samples from animals that dwelled in the animal shelter. As could be expected, S. intermedius was found to be a predominant causative agent in canine skin infections. In our study, we demonstrated that S. intermedius in its carrier-state, inhabits mainly the mucosal membrane of the nasal vestibule. It was also found in the samples taken from the skin, the lumbo-sacralis triangle and perineum, but was rarely isolated from the ears.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Microbiological Research and Autovaccines Ltd., Krak6w, Poland.
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasprowicz
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Białecka
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Białecka
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Godzisz
authors.forename: Wiesław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Barabasz
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Jaworska
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Małachowa
authors.forename: Jacek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miedzobrodzki
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000382:microbiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*