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Canine Staphylococcus argenteus: Case Report from The Netherlands
Eelco F J Meijer1, Anne van Renssen2, Ianthe Maat1
1Department of Medical Microbiology and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 26, 2022
Summary
The first canine case of Staphylococcus argenteus, a bacterium typically found in humans, was identified in a Labrador retriever. This finding highlights the bacterium's potential to infect multiple species and spread between animals and humans.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Medicine
- Microbiology
- Genomics
Background:
- Staphylococcus argenteus is increasingly recognized as a human pathogen globally.
- Cases of S. argenteus in non-human hosts are rare, limiting understanding of its epidemiology and host range.
- The pathogenicity and infectivity of S. argenteus across different species require further investigation.
Observation:
- A deep wound infection in a Labrador retriever following orthopedic surgery was diagnosed as Staphylococcus argenteus.
- This represents the first documented instance of S. argenteus infection in a canine.
- The canine isolate underwent whole-genome sequencing and comprehensive antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Findings:
- Phylogenetic and genetic analyses of the canine S. argenteus genome were performed.
- Extensive phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted using both human and veterinary antibiotics.
- No specific genetic factors were identified to explain the bacterium's successful infection of a canine host.
Implications:
- The findings suggest Staphylococcus argenteus possesses intrinsic pathogenicity across multiple species.
- The case underscores the potential for (anthropo-)zoonotic transmission of S. argenteus between animals and humans.
- This study necessitates a broader One Health approach to monitoring and managing S. argenteus infections.
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