Abstract
Introduction Staphylococcus coagulans (formerly Staphylococcus schleiferi subsp. coagulans ) is a common commensal and opportunistic pathogen of companion dogs. It carries a range of antimicrobial resistance genes and is an occasional zoonotic pathogen.Hypothesis/Gap StatementDespite the potential insight offered by genome sequencing into the biology of S. coagulans , few genomes are currently available for study.AimTo sequence and analyse S. coagulans genomes to improve understanding of this organism’s molecular epidemiology, antimicrobial resistance and bacterium–host interactions.MethodologyTwenty-five genomes of clinical isolates collected at a veterinary referral hospital in Scotland, UK, were sequenced with Illumina technology. These genomes were analysed by a series of bioinformatics tools along with 16 previously sequenced genomes.ResultsPhylogenetic comparison of the 41 genomes shows that the current S. coagulans phylogeny is dominated by clades of closely related isolates, at least one of which has spread internationally. Ten of the 11 methicillin-resistant S. coagulans genomes in this collection of 41 encoded the mecA promoter and gene mutations that are predicted to render the isolates susceptible to penicillins in the presence of clavulanic acid, a feature only described to date in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus . Seven such isolates were from the current study and, in line with the genome-based prediction, all were susceptible to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid in vitro. S. coagulans shared very few highly conserved virulence-associated genes with Staphylococcus pseudintermedius , another common commensal and opportunistic canine pathogen.ConclusionThe availability of a further 25 genome sequences from clinical S. coagulans isolates will aid in better understanding the epidemiology, bacterial–host interactions and antimicrobial resistance of this opportunistic pathogen.
Highlights
IntroductionStaphylococcus coagulans (formerly Staphylococcus schleiferi subsp. coagulans) is a common commensal and opportunistic pathogen of companion dogs
Staphylococcus coagulans is a common commensal and opportunistic pathogen of companion dogs
Ten of the 11 methicillin-resistant S. coagulans genomes in this collection of 41 encoded the mecA promoter and gene mutations that are predicted to render the isolates susceptible to penicillins in the presence of clavulanic acid, a feature only described to date in methicillin-r esistant Staphylococcus aureus
Summary
Staphylococcus coagulans (formerly Staphylococcus schleiferi subsp. coagulans) is a common commensal and opportunistic pathogen of companion dogs. Coagulans) is a common commensal and opportunistic pathogen of companion dogs. S. coagulans is primarily a commensal and opportunistic pathogen of companion dogs. It is frequently isolated from the skin [3] and the external ear canal [4] of healthy dogs as well as being associated with external ear otitis [1, 3–5] and pyoderma [4, 6–8]. In addition to companion dogs and humans, the list of currently reported hosts or sites of S. coagulans isolation, to the best of my knowledge, is as follows; domestic cats [14], chicken meat [15], ready to eat retail fish [16], healthy feral and domestic pigeons [17], Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) [18], South polar skua (Stercorarius maccormicki) [18], Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) [18], southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) [18, 19], grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) [19] and Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) [19]. Akin to many staphylococcal species, S. coagulans is widely distributed in avian and mammalian host species and is probably found more widely among such host species than is presently documented
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
