Genetic characterization of coagulase-positive staphylococci isolated from healthy pigeons

Coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) are opportunistic veterinary pathogens, of which Staphylococcus aureus, S. delphini and S. intermedius can be isolated from pigeons. The biochemical identification of S. delphini and S. intermedius isolates may be incorrect, because of their phenotypic similarity. The purpose of the present study was to isolate and identify CoPS from domestic and feral pigeons and to determine their genetic relatedness by PFGE. A total number of 31 isolates of CoPS were obtained, 15 were identified as S. delphini group B, six as S. aureus, four as S. delphini group A, three as S. intermedius and three as S. schleiferi subsp. coagulans. The results indicate that S. delphini group B is the predominant CoPS species among pigeons studied. PFGE restriction patterns of S. delphini group A and S. delphini group B form separate clusters, demonstrating their genetic heterogeneity. Indistinguishable or very similar PFGE patterns observed among S. delphini group B isolates from domestic and feral pigeons confirm the possibility of CoPS transmission between these birds.