First report of a mecA-positive multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolated from a dog in New Zealand

CASE HISTORY: A 14-year-old neutered male Sealyham terrier was referred for assessment of a persistent pyoderma. It had experienced numerous episodes of dermatitis involving pododermatitis, pyoderma and otitis over the previous 6 years.

CLINICAL FINDINGS: Superficial, focally deep and mucocutaneous pyoderma were present, with yellow mucoid exudate on both nares and the lower lips crusted with haemopurulent exudate. Epidermal collarettes were present on the dorsal and lateral trunk. There were peri-anal crusts and mild erythema was present on the concave aspect of both pinnae.

MICROBIOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Culture and microbiological testing identified Staphylococcus pseudintermedius as the infecting organism. Kirby-Bauer disc susceptibility testing revealed the isolate was resistant to numerous antimicrobials including oxacillin. PCR testing of the isolate identified the presence of the mecA gene which confers resistance to β-lactam antimicrobials. Pulsed field gel electrophoresis typing suggested the isolate was not related to the methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermedius that had been reported to be associated with canine infections in Western Australia.

DIAGNOSIS: Superficial, deep and mucus membrane pyoderma associated with a multi-drug resistant S. pseudintermedius.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This is the first recorded case of canine pyoderma involving methicillin-resistant multidrug-resistant S. pseudintermedius in New Zealand. Treatment of such cases is difficult because the number of effective and available antimicrobials is limited. This finding should raise the awareness of the veterinary and medical professions to the presence of such organisms in New Zealand and stimulate a discussion about possible biosecurity barriers, treatment strategies and prevention of zoonotic and nosocomial infections.     

A comparison of diagnostic tests for hairy shaker disease

Abstract

Extract

From 1982 to 1988, the virus culture interference assay was used by the Animal Health Laboratory Network as a diagnostic test for hairy shaker (HS) disease (known as border disease in the United Kingdom). However, this assay is slow and relatively expensive, and in some studies of the prevalence of HS disease it gave inexplicably high rates of 28–33% ⁽¹⁾ Orr, MB and Montgomery, RH. 1983. Hairy shaker update in Otago and Southland. Surveillance, 10(4): 13–13.  [Google Scholar] ⁽²⁾ Smith, KR. 1986. Hairy shaker disease: Estimate of the true prevalence of this disease in Otago and Southland. Surveillance, 13(2): 8–9.  [Google Scholar] ⁽³⁾ Orr, MB. 1988. Sheep abortions - Invermay 1988. Surveillance, 16(3): 24–25.  [Google Scholar]) compared with other studies in which the prevalence rates were 1–8% ⁽⁴⁾ Horner, G. 1983. Hairy shaker disease: The North Island situation. Surveillance, 10(3): 21–22.  [Google Scholar] (G. Horner, pers. comm.) The present project was designed to compare the virus culture interference test with an immunoperoxidase (IPX) method and an antigen capture ELISA for the detection of HS virus.     

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibodies against bovine pestivirus

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed and compared with the serum neutralisation test for bovine pestivirus using 508 cattle sera and serial serum samples from a goat hyperimmunized with five bovine pestivirus isolates. There was 96.7% agreement between the two tests. The relative sensitivity of the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay compared to the serum neutralisation test was 95.2% and the relative specificity was 99.4%. The titres of individual animals in the assay did not show a close correlation with serum neutralisation test titres. This may be because the antibodies measured in the two tests are directed against different viral proteins. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay has the advantage of being quicker and cheaper than the serum neutralisation test. The configuration used in the ELISA means sera from all species can be tested for pestivirus antibody using the same set of reagents.     

鸭传染性浆膜炎的防治措施

鸭传染性浆膜炎是侵害雏鸭的一种慢性或急性败血性传染病，病原体为鸭疫里默氏杆菌，已经为危害养鸭业的主要传染病。采取免疫接种、鸭舍消毒、治疗等，控制鸭传染性浆膜炎的发生。