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Staphylococcus aureus – implications of the oral cavity disease at the dog

and cat

Article · January 2012

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 Staphylococcus aureus – implications of the oral cavity
disease at the dog and cat
Cristina RÎMBU, Eleonora GUGUIANU, Cristina HORHOGEA Mihai
CARP-CĂRARE
Facultatea de Medicină Veterinară Iaşi, U$AMV Iaşi,
crimbu@yahoo.com

Microbiological investigations performed on different biological taken from the mouth to

200 dogs and 135 cats identify Staphylococcus aureus into a significant share.
In dogs, were isolated and identified 13 (82,1%) strains of Staphylococcus aureus from
abscesses, 4 (25%) strains of palatine, 10 (20.8%) strains from the oro-pharyngitis and tonsillitis, 13
(18,7%) strains of oro-sinus fistulas, 9 (15,5%) of gingivitis, and 2 (2,6%) strains of periodontitis.
At cats, were isolated and identified 21 (53,8%) strains of Staphylococcus aureus from
abscesses, 4 (26,6%) strains of oro-sinus fistulas, 8 (16%) strains from the oro-pharyngitis and
tonsillitis, 8 (12,1%) strains of gingivitis, 1(10%) strains of palatinate and 7 (8,6%) strains of
periodontitis.
Coexistence into a common habitat led to transfer the risk of infection between humans and
pets. The major implications of this species are given by the pathogenic factors, but also by the
posibility to select some MRSA strains, which are strains with major health risk for the public.

Keywords: cat, dog, oral cavity, Staphylococcus

Introduction
Oral ecosystem is diverse, estimated about 500 commensal bacterial
species, spread across various oral niches, with salivary microbiota (Marshall Z. J.,
2010).
Most studies related to commensal and pathogenic microbiota of the mouth
in humans were well detailed, while in dogs and cats are limited or poorly described
studies (Elliott D.R., 2005).
The diversity of bacterial species emphasizes the importance of the habitat
in the formation of local microbiota.
Allochthonous microorganism to organism, has a transient, sometimes
disease character and implantes only in conditions in which normal symbiotic
system is disrupted by the disappearance of a local micro.The balance reinstalls
when the allochthonous microorganism will retake his niche, excluding the
allochthonous species (Guguianu E, 2002). The diverse polymicrobian pathology of
the mouth has been attributed to an impressive number of commesal and also
transient bacteria.
In the mouth, the infection can develop as focal infection (dental abscess) or
as a bacterial invasive nature (bacteremia) (O'Reilly P.G., 2000). It is known that,
because saliva, all surfaces maintain a constant humidity that fosters the creation
and development of a bacterial biofilm (Pavlika Z., 2006).
Staphylococcus aureus is considered an opportunistic pathogen, commonly
found in humans, involved in various skin localized infections, sepsis and toxic
syndromes shape (Gyles C.L., 2004). This species is rarely identified in mouth

1
disease at pet carnivores (Harvey C.E., 1990; Guérin-Faublée V., 2000; Euzéby
J.P., 2002; Elliott D. R, 2005).
In dogs and cats confined normal bacterial microflora in the mouth is
divided into a variety of aerobic, facultative or strictly anaerobic (Pavlika Z., 2006).
In cats there however, in 1999, Lilenbaum W. et al. isolates from 150
samples of saliva, 100 strains of staphylococci of which 71% were coagulase
negative (Staphylococcus felis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus
simulans, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus epidemidis) and 29%
coagulase positive (Staphylococcus intermedius) without isolating Staphylococcus
aureus too.
Guérin-Faublée V. and Euzby J.P. (2000), classifyed isolated bacteria from
various oral diseases in dogs and cats but the implications of coagulase-positive
mentions only in case of pharyngotonsillitis.
Materials and methods
Between 2007-2010, were investigated 200 dogs and 135 cats of mixed
breeds, which show different mouth disease: gingivitis, periodontitis, abscesses,
adenoids, glossitis, tonsils, adenoids, dental caries. The animals were part of
casuistry Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary of Iasi.
Sampling was carried aseptic conditions and varied, depending on location
in infection and suspected etiologic agent properties. Pathological material were
subjected to microbiological examination in the laboratory of Microbiology of the
University Center for Veterinary Medicine, Faculty Medicine Veterinary Iasi.
In clinical microbiology, bacterial cultures of isolates aims pathological
isolation, identification and susceptibility testing of bacterial strains to various
antimicrobial substances, in order to initiate and monitor anti-infective.
For isolation and identification of staphylococci were used have used the
usual culture media for aerobic bacteria (nutrient agar, nutrient broth), plain or
supplemented with 10% sheep blood and special media, agar Chapmann to test the
ability to ferment mannitol, agar Baird Parker favoring the multiplication of
coagulase-positive (Staph. aureus, Staph. intermedius).
To determine pathogenicity in vitro, haemolysis test has been carried (as
beta-hemolytic Staphylococcus aureus) and citrate plasma coagulation test to
differentiate coagulase positive staphylococci (S. aureus, S. intermedius) of the
coagulase negative (S. epidemidis) and streptococci.
Identification of Staphylococcus aureus was performed using API Staph
identification systems, consisting of 20 microtest dehydrated form. Identification of
bacterial species was based on interpretation of the code number, obtained after
processing in biochemical results, as the Catalogue of interpretation (API Staphy
Analytical Profile Index).
Senbility antibiotic profile of strains of Staphylococcus aureus has been
shown by antibiogram, diffusion method. The purpose of these measurements was
to identify the most effective antimicrobials that can be applied in veterinary
dentistry.
Results and discussions
Identification of Staphylococcus aures corroboration was based on cultural
aspects ( fig. 1), morphology (fig. 2), biochemical (table 1) and pathogenicity.
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 Table 1
Biochemical profil of the species Staphylococcus aureus
API 0 GLU FRU MNE MAL LAC TRE MAN XLT MEL
STAPH M- + + + + + + + - -
NIT PAL VP RAF XyL SAC MDG NAG ADH URE
+ + + - - + + + + V

There are different clinical entities that vary with the severity of
inflammation. The presence of bacteria in favorable conditions lead to different
clinical forms in relation to several factors: the virulence of bacterial strains, the
bacteria concentration and stamina (M. Manolescu, 1998).
The most common oral clinical entities who are gingivitis and periodontitis
and cats. Appearance of other clinical forms (abscess, palatinitis, glossitis, fistulas,
etc.), it seems, are favored by intolerance to dental plaque (bacterial) or due to
exaggerated response of the local defense system, a mechanism that induces
inflammation, which can graft pathogenic microorganisms that have complex
equipment. Other causes are favorable genetic predisposition, environmental stress
and diet (C. Gorell, J. Bellows, 2010).
Generally, tonsillitis and oro-pharyngitis are considered and treated as
upper respiratory disease, and only tangentially, the effect of some oral diseases.
For this reason, we selected cases of oro-pharyngitis and tonsillitis that were
associated only with oral lesions.
The etiology of these clinical entities identified in dogs and cats of our
study was polifactorială, which is not consistent with the literature data (C. Gorell,
2010; J. Bellows, 2010). Therefore, Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from
mixed cultures, isolates obtained from oral pathology.
Analysis of data obtained show a significant incidence of Staphylococcus
aureus strains isolated from various oral lesions, identified in dogs and cats.
Microbiological research conducted for isolates obtained from the 200 dogs
with various oral diseases have led to the isolation and identification of 242
bacterial strains of which 41 (16,94%) strains of Staph. aureus (table 2, fig.3).
Table 2
The incidence of Staphylococcus aureus, isolated from oral diseases

dogs cats
Mouth Totally Strains Staphy. aureus Totally Strains Staphy. aureus
disease bacterial bacterial
strains Nr. % strains Nr. %
isolated isolated
Gingivitis 58 9 15,5 66 8 12,1
Periodontitis 76 2 2,6 81 7 8,6
Abscesses 28 13 82,1 39 21 53,8
Oro-sinus 16 3 18,7 15 4 26,6
fistulas
Palatinitis 16 4 25 10 1 10
Oro- 48 10 20,8 50 8 16
pharyngitis,
tonsillis
All strains 242 41 16,94 261 49 18,7

3
 Fig.3 Incidence of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from oral sampled

From the 135 cats with oral disease have been isolated and identified 261
bacterial strains of which 49 (18,7%) strains of Staph. aureus.
The roots were isolated and identified 13 (82.1%) strains of Staphylococcus
aureus from abscesses (fig 5), 4 (25%) strains of palatinate, 10 (20,8%) strains from
the oro-pharyngitis and tonsillitis, 13 (18,7%) strains of orosinus fistulas (fig.6), 9
(15,5%) of gingivitis, and 2 (2,6%) strains of periodontitis.
In cats, were isolated and identified 21 (53,8%) strains of Staphylococcus
aureus from abscesses (fig.7), 4 (26,6%) strains of orosinus fistulas (fig.8), 8 (16%)
strains from the oro-pharyngitis and tonsillitis, 8 (12,1%) strains of gingivitis,
1(10%) strains of palatinitis and 7 (8,6%) strains of periodontitis.
It is recognized the pyogenic action of Staphylococcus aureus species, look
emphasized by isolation, into a high percentage of oral abscesses, at dogs and also
at cats.
Ideally, there should be tested all strains isolated from an outbreak.
The results obtained by testing antibiotics are necessary for antimicrobial
therapy and may be useful in identifying mechanisms of resistance and
identification of epidemiological trends.
It is recognized that the percentage of strains with gained resistance to
antibiotics increases in direct proportion with the intensity of their use (Buic D.,
2010).
The results of investigations performed antimicrobial Staphylococcus
aureus strains isolated from dogs and cats are shown in table 3.
In dogs, the analysis of data obtained, shows that, 37(90,2%) strains of S.
aureus were susceptible to gentamicin, 36(87,8%) to amoxicillin clavulanic acid,
35(85,3%) in clindamycin and erythromycin, 33(80,5%) to doxycycline, 30 (73,1%)
to amoxicillin, 29(70,7%) to cefoperazone. Antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus
strains was insignificant and doxycycline was observed in 4(9,7%), enrofloxacin 4
(9.7%) and amoxicillin 3(7,3%).

4
 Table 3
Antimicrobial test results of Staph. aureus strains, isolated from mouth samples
Dogs Cats
41 strains S. aureus 49 strains S. aureus
Antibiotic tested S MS R S MS R
nr % nr % nr % nr % nr % nr %
Amoxicillin 30 73,1 8 19,5 3 7,3 30 61,2 12 24,5 7 14,3
Amoxicillin+ 36 87,8 3 7,3 2 4,8 38 77,5 9 18,3 2 4,0
clavulanic acid
Ampicillin 33 80,5 8 19,5 1 2,4 33 67,3 11 22,4 5 10,2
Erythromycin 35 85,3 5 12,2 1 2,4 27 55,1 22 44,9 - 0
Gentamicin 37 90,2 2 4,8 2 4,8 33 67,3 12 24,5 4 8,1
Doxycycline 33 80,5 4 9,7 4 9,7 32 65,3 7 14,3 10 20,4
Clindamycin 35 85,3 5 12,2 1 2,4 33 67,3 9 18,3 7 14,3
Enrofloxacin 27 65,8 10 24,4 4 9,7 30 61,2 14 28,5 4 8,1
Cefoperazone 29 70,7 10 24,4 2 4,8 17 34,7 19 38,7 13 26,5
Ceftiofur 27 65,8 12 29,3 2 4,8 21 42,8 22 44,9 6 12,2
Cefadroxil 27 65,8 13 31,7 1 2,4 36 73,5 9 18,3 4 8,1
Metronidazole- 19 46,3 19 46,3 3 7,3 22 44,9 21 42,8 6 12,2
spiramycin
S- sensibility; MS- moderate sensibility; R- rezistance

Fig.8 The share of bacterial strains isolated from dogs, sensitivity to antibiotics which
manifest

In cats, the proportion of S. aureus strains susceptible to antibiotics was

low. Of all strains tested, 38(77,5%) strains were susceptible to amoxicillin
clavulanic acid, 36(73,5%) strains to cefadroxil, 33(67,3%) strains to ampicillin,
gentamicin, clindamycin, 32(65,3%) strains to doxycycline, 30(61,2%) to
ampicillin. Antimicrobial resistance was there however, manifested in a significant
number of S. aureus strains. There is resistance, 13(26,5%) strains of S. aureus to
cefoperazone, 10(20,4%) strains resistant to doxycycline, 7(14,3%) to amoxicillin
and clindamycin, 6(12,2 %) to ceftiofur and spiramycin metronidazole, 5(10,2%) to
ampicillin, 4 (8,1%) to gentamicin and enrofloxacin.

5
 Although antibiotics used have a broad spectrum of action, it appears
however that there is wide variation limits for strains that show sensitivity to them.
Irrational use of antibiotics is the main cause of antibioresistance, which
explains the presence of bacterial strains resistant to broad-spectrum antibiotics.
Therefore, it is necessary, the need for a susceptibility to establish accurately the
antimicrobial treatment.
Another consequence, the administration of oral antibiotics is destruction
oro-pharyngeal microbiota, followed by prompt colonization of pathogenic bacteria
including species Stapylococcus aureus.
Conclusions
Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen status in etiology
stomatitis to dogs and cats.
In national and international context, the study complements the few
existing information on the scope and implication of this pathogen in oral pathology
to dog and cats.
We believe that the main cause of the presence of S. aureus species in the
oral cavity of these species is due coexistence into a common habitat and lead to
infection risk transfer between humans and pets.

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