The association of Staphylococcus schleiferi with canine pyoderma

Staphylococcus schleiferi is a recently recognized organism with potential pathogenic implications in human and veterinary medicine. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of S. schleiferi in canine pyodermas and see if methicillin resistance (MR) is associated with this organism. Cultures were obtained from dogs with pyoderma over a 1‐year period. It was determined if the pyoderma was a first‐time or recurrent one, and if the dog was receiving antibiotics at the time of culture. Of 15 dogs with first‐time pyoderma, four dogs were receiving antibiotics at the time of culture: S. schleiferi was not cultured from any dog in this group. Cultures were obtained from 27 dogs with recurrent infection that were not receiving antibiotics: S. schleiferi was cultured from five of these dogs; three of the five S. schleiferi‐cultured isolates were MR. Cultures were obtained from 12 dogs with recurrent pyoderma while receiving antibiotics: S. schleiferi was cultured from nine of these dogs; eight of the nine S. schleiferi‐cultured isolates were MR. Five of the 12 dogs had been cultured previously while not receiving antibiotics. Three of these dogs cultured positive for S. intermedius initially, and then ‐cultured; one dog cultured S. schleiferi positive both times; and one dog cultured S. schleiferi positive, then S. intermedius positive. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of S. schleiferi associated with canine pyoderma. Results indicate that S. schleiferi is cultured more often from dogs with recurrent pyodermas while receiving antibiotics. MR is frequently associated with S. schleiferi. Funded by the Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences and a grant from the Center of Excellence.