Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Staphylococcus schleiferi found in healthy dogs and dogs with ear
By May, Elizabeth R et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2005·Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Isolation of Staphylococcus schleiferi from healthy dogs and dogs with otitis, pyoderma, or both.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A study found that Staphylococcus schleiferi, a type of bacteria, was present in both healthy dogs and those suffering from ear infections (otitis) and skin infections (pyoderma). Among the 50 dogs tested, some healthy dogs had this bacteria in their ears, while it was also found in dogs with ear and skin infections. Notably, some of these bacteria were resistant to common antibiotics like methicillin. This means that if your dog has ear or skin infections, it's important to discuss antibiotic options with your vet, as some infections may not respond to standard treatments.
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Abstract
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. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 50 dogs. PROCEDURE: 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 AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: 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.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16190591/