A retrospective descriptive study of Staphylococcus species isolated from canine specimens submitted to a diagnostic laboratory in South Africa, 2012–2017
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A retrospective descriptive study of Staphylococcus species isolated from canine specimens submitted to a diagnostic laboratory in South Africa, 2012–2017
Sigudu, Themba; Qekwana, Daniel Nenene; Oguttu, James Wabwire
There is a scarcity of published studies on the occurrence of Staphylococcus spp. Among
dogs in South Africa. The objective of the study was to characterise the Staphylococcus spp. Isolated
from dog samples submitted to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory in South Africa in terms of time,
place, and person. This study utilised a dataset of 1627 positive Staphylococcus isolates obtained from
a veterinary diagnostic laboratory in South Africa from 2012 to 2017. Out of the 1627 confirmed
isolates, 10 different species of Staphylococcus were identified. Among these, 92.0% were classified as
coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS), 6.0% were coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS), and
3.0% were coagulase-variable. Male dogs contributed just over half (53.2%) of the Staphylococcus
isolates, while female dogs contributed the remaining 46.8%. The largest proportion of isolates
(23.2%) were obtained from dogs aged ≥ 9 years, with the highest number of isolates originating
from KwaZulu-Natal Province (45.0%) and the least from Northern Cape Province (0.1%). Out of
the total samples included in the records, the majority (46.0%) were skin specimens. The number
of Staphylococcus isolates recorded showed limited variation between the seasons (24.3% in autumn,
26.3% in winter, 26.0% in spring, and 24.0% in summer). This study highlighted the diversity of
Staphylococcus spp. isolated from dogs, and the burden of staphylococcal carriage among dogs in
South Africa. Further research is required to examine the factors that contribute to the observed
discrepancies in the proportions of Staphylococcus spp. between the provinces.
Description:
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : The data that support the findings of this study are available upon reasonable request and under specific conditions. For inquiries regarding access to the data, including requests for collaboration or data sharing agreements, please contact M. Henton, Bacteriologist, at henton@vetdx.co.za. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis, taking into consideration the nature of the request, compliance with relevant regulations, and any associated agreements or protocols.