The Morphobiological Properties of the Staphylococcus Spp, Strains Isolated in Canine Pyodermas

Abstract

Many studies have proved the direct involvement of staphylococci in causing skin diseases in dogs. Although they are mucosal residents and commensals of the skin, in certain conditions they are becoming pathogens causing pyoderma. The present study aims to highlight morpho-biological properties of staphylococci strains, necessary for both establishing genus and species of the isolated strains and assessing their pathogenic potential. The study was conducted on a total of 30 samples collected from 30 dogs brought at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Bucharest clinics for diagnosis and/or treatment during January-July 2013. Samples were bacteriological examined in the Microbiology Laboratory of the same institution. The studied strains were identified based on their cultural, morphological and biochemical features and on their response to certain antibiotics. There were isolated and identified 30 strains of staphylococci out of which 28 belonging to Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and 2 strains belonging to Staphylococcus aureus, which proves both the prevalence of S. pseudintermedius in causing canine skin infections and the high degree of the pathogenicity of the bacteria responsible for the lesions.The present study shows that Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is the main bacteria involved in the occurrence of canine pyoderma. By highlighting the morpho-biological properties of the investigated strains, it is achieved the basic condition required for the selection of strains used in developing staph autovaccine and for finding the antibiotic of choice that guarantees therapeutic success.