Enterotoxigenicity of Staphylococcus intermedius strains isolated from dogs

Dogs (n = 100) were examined for the presence of enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus intermedius. Enterotoxigenic strains were isolated from the nasal cavities of 43 (43.0%) out of 100 dogs. Of the 50 enterotoxigenic strains isolated, 23 (46.0%) produced enterotoxin A, 17 (34.0%) enterotoxins A and C, 8 (16.0%) enterotoxin C, and only two (4.0%) enterotoxins A and B. The amount of enterotoxin produced on semisolid brain heart infusion medium by the 17 enterotoxin A producing strains of S. intermedius was 10-160 ng per ml. Enterotoxin A production by S. intermedius strains was ony one tenth to one hundredth of that of S. aureus strains from staphylococcal food poisoning outbreaks.