Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Staphylococcus hyicus in skin lesions of horses.
- Journal:
- Equine veterinary journal
- Year:
- 1983
- Authors:
- Devriese, L A et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In two separate cases, a type of bacteria called Staphylococcus hyicus was found to be the main cause of skin problems in horses, specifically dermatitis affecting the lower legs, known as grease heel. Other horses with similar skin issues also had this bacteria along with other harmful staphylococci. The affected horses showed signs like skin peeling, hair loss, and crusty patches, but they responded well to antibiotic treatment. In one case of a long-lasting skin condition called "summer eczema," the horse healed on its own without antibiotics, and Staphylococcus hyicus was also found in a horse with another skin infection. Overall, the treatment for the skin conditions was effective.
Abstract
Staphylococcus hyicus (subspecies hyicus) was isolated as the only pathogenic organism from two independent cases of dermatitis of the lower parts of the limbs (grease heel) in horses. The organism was recovered together with other pathogenic staphylococci from similar conditions in two other horses of different origins. These conditions were characterised by epidermolysis, alopecia and crust formation. They responded quickly to antibiotic treatment. The organism was also isolated from a long standing case of "summer eczema" which healed without antibiotic treatment, and from a horse with dermatophilosis (streptotrichosis, Dermatophilus congolensis infection). Experimentally, Staph hyicus caused epidermolysis, exudation and inflammation in the superficial layers of the skin.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6884317/