Detection of Viable Streptococcus equi equi Using Propidium Monoazide Polymerase Chain Reaction.

There is debate around the clinical significance of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi detection in low numbers using quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Propidium monoazide (PMA) qPCR has been used to differentiate DNA from viable and nonviable bacterial cells.

Detection of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi in guttural pouch lavage samples using a loop-mediated isothermal nucleic acid amplification microfluidic device.

Background: Rapid point-of-care (POC) detection of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi (S. equi) would theoretically reduce the spread of strangles by identifying index and carrier horses.

Molecular and epidemiological characterization of canine Pseudomonas otitis using a prospective case-control study design.

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen of the canine ear canal and occupies aquatic habitats in the environment. Nosocomial and zoonotic transmission of P. aeruginosa have been documented, including clonal outbreaks.

Genotypic relatedness and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus schleiferi in clinical samples from dogs in different geographic regions of the United States.

Background: Staphylococcus schleiferi is a known pathogen that can cause canine skin and ear infections. The aim of this study was to determine the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of clinical veterinary isolates from different geographic regions in the United States.

Hypothesis: It was hypothesized that S.

Optimization of an in vitro assay to detect Streptococcus equi subsp. equi.

Streptococcus equi is the etiologic agent of a highly infectious upper respiratory disease of horses known as strangles. Bacterial culture methods and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of nasopharyngeal washes and guttural pouch lavages are used routinely to test clinical and carrier animals for the presence of S. equi but no definitive or gold standard test method has been shown to be optimal.

Genotypic relatedness and phenotypic characterization of Staphylococcus schleiferi subspecies in clinical samples from dogs.

Objective: To assess the degree of biological similarity (on the basis of genotype determined via pulsed-field gel electrophoresis [PFGE]) between isolates of 2 Staphylococcus schleiferi subspecies (S schleiferi subsp coagulans and S schleiferi subsp schleiferi) in clinical samples obtained from dogs.

Sample Population: 161 S schleiferi isolates from 160 canine patients.

Procedures: A commercial microbiology identification system was used to identify each isolate as S schleiferi.

The prevalence of carriage of meticillin-resistant staphylococci by veterinary dermatology practice staff and their respective pets.

It has been shown that people and pets can harbour identical strains of meticillin-resistant (MR) staphylococci when they share an environment. Veterinary dermatology practitioners are a professional group with a high incidence of exposure to animals infected by Staphylococcus spp. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of carriage of MR Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), MR S.

Pseudomonas fluorescens contamination of a feline packed red blood cell unit and studies of canine units.

Background: While screening programs have reduced the risk of infectious disease transmission by donors in human and veterinary blood banking, bacterial contamination of blood products has emerged as a major complication in human medicine.

Objectives: To describe a Pseudomonas fluorescens (Pf)-contaminated feline packed RBC (pRBC) unit and experimentally investigate Pf-contaminated canine pRBCs.

Methods: Canine pRBCs were inoculated with Pf-rich pRBCs from the sentinel feline unit and stored at 4 degrees C or 20 degrees C for 72 hours.

Clinical, microbiological, and molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections of cats.

Objective: To compare clinical information obtained from medical records of cats with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-susceptible S aureus (MSSA) infections, evaluate antibiograms of MRSA and MSSA for multiple-drug resistance (MDR), and characterize the strain type and staphylococcal chromosome cassette (SCC)mec type of each MRSA.

Sample Population: 70 S aureus isolates obtained from 46 cats.

Procedures: Clinical information obtained from medical records, including signalment, clinical signs, histologic examination of affected tissues, and outcomes, was compared between the 2 groups.

Distribution of Malassezia organisms on the skin of unaffected psittacine birds and psittacine birds with feather-destructive behavior.

Objective: To ascertain whether Malassezia organisms can be detected via cytologic examination and fungal culture of samples from the skin surface of psittacine birds and determine whether the number of those organisms differs between unaffected psittacines and those that have chronic feather-destructive behavior or differs by body region.

Design: Prospective study.

Animals: 50 unaffected psittacines and 53 psittacines that had feather-destructive behavior.

Detection of a bla(SHV) extended-spectrum {beta}-lactamase in Salmonella enterica serovar Newport MDR-AmpC.

Salmonella enterica serovar Newport MDR-AmpC expressing TEM-1b and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase SHV-12 was isolated from affected animals during an outbreak of salmonellosis that led to a 3-month closure of one of the largest equine hospitals in the United States.

Panton valentine leukocidin (PVL) toxin positive MRSA strains isolated from companion animals.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a highly pathogenic multiple-drug resistant (MDR) microorganism that has recently become more prevalent in the community. It has been found that MRSA strains can also contain genes that encode the panton valentine leukocidin toxin (PVL). The PVL toxin has been shown to be responsible for many of the severe clinical symptoms of infection with MRSA, such as furunculosis, severe necrotizing pneumonia, and necrotic lesions of the skin and soft tissues.

A real-time PCR assay to detect the Panton Valentine Leukocidin toxin in staphylococci: screening Staphylococcus schleiferi subspecies coagulans strains from companion animals.

Recent reports suggest that methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus schleiferi subspecies coagulans are now commonly isolated from dogs. Given the association of a potentially mobile SCCmec type IV element with lysogenic phage-encoded Panton Valentine Leukocidin (PVL) toxin genes in community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains we hypothesized that methicillin-resistant S. schleiferi ssp.