[The effect of bacterial interference phenomena in experimental Staphylococcus hyicus infections of gnotobiotic...

The prevention of exudative epidermitis could be confirmed in experimental investigations with gnotobiotic piglets when the skin first was colonized with avirulent strains of Staphylococcus (Staph.) hyicus and subsequently exposed to virulent strains of Staph. hyicus. However, locally restricted cutaneous lesions in the area of application corresponding to exudative epidermitis were seen in five of nine piglets. Using the strain Staph. sciuri the spread of virulent Staph. hyicus could not be suppressed. Such infected two piglets developed generalized exudative epidermitis. In another experiment with four piglets it could be shown, that the relative protective mechanism correlating to bacterial interference on the one hand can be influenced by the virulence of causative organisms. On the other hand it even can be abolished when skin lesions are involved. For that reason probably the utilization of bacterial interference in prevention of exudative epidermitis under field conditions is considerably limited.