Association between skin surface pH, temperature and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in dogs with...

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Dermatology
• Canine Pathology
• Microbiology

Background:

• Secondary bacterial infections frequently complicate canine immunomodulatory-responsive lymphocytic-plasmacytic pododermatitis (ImR-LPP).
• The role of skin pH and temperature in cutaneous microflora composition at lesional sites in ImR-LPP remains uninvestigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between ImR-LPP and pedal skin temperature, pH, and Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates.
• To determine if skin pH and temperature influence bacterial composition in dogs with ImR-LPP.

Main Methods:

• Measured skin temperature and pH in 20 dogs with ImR-LPP and 30 controls.
• Cultured and semi-quantitatively scored Staphylococcus pseudintermedius from interdigital and palmoplantar swabs in both groups.

Main Results:

• Dogs with ImR-LPP showed significantly higher mean skin pH and more frequent, higher-scoring Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolates.
• No significant differences in mean skin temperature were observed between groups.
• Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolation was significantly associated with ImR-LPP, except for one specific sample type.

Conclusions:

• Staphylococcus pseudintermedius infection in ImR-LPP is likely secondary.
• Altered skin pH and temperature are not significant risk factors for ImR-LPP or associated S. pseudintermedius infections.