Epidemiological and clinico-therapeutic studies on bacterial skin infections in dogs

Abstract

The present study was mainly focused on epidemiological, diagnostic and clinico-therapeutic aspects of bacterial skin infections in dogs. A total of 42 animals were observed and diagnosed bacterial skin infection by culture of exudates or touch swab from skin lesions, out of the 933 animals brought to the University Veterinary Hospitals at Kokkalai and Mannuthy from February 2009 to January 2010 with different dermatological problems. More incidence of bacterial skin infections was observed in female dogs and in German shepherd breed. Detailed clinical examination of infected animals revealed pruritus, alopecia, ulcer, erythema and papule as the major clinical signs. Infected animals showed statistically significant reduction in mean values of packed cell volume and total RBC count in infected animals. Serum biochemical examination revealed significantly higher mean value for serum albumin and hypoglycemia in infected dogs. Serum mineral estimation of infected animals showed lower mean value for copper and higher mean value for zinc. Out of the 34 bacterial isolates, Staphylococcus epidermidis (32.35 per cent) was the most commonly isolated organism followed by Staphylococcus hyicus (20.58 per cent), Staphylococcus intermedius (14.7 per cent), Staphylococcus aureus (8.82 per cent) and Micrococcus spp (2.94 per cent). Gram negative organisms such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11.76 per cent), Klebsiella pneumoniae (5.88 per cent) and Pseudomonas fluorescence (2.94 per cent) were also obtained. In vitro antibiotic sensitivity analysis revealed that gatifloxacin is the most effective antibiotic in the treatment of bacterial skin infections in dogs and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid combination and cephalexin could be used as a second choice based on the antibiogram. But highest rate of clinical cure (100 per cent) was showed in group treated with cephalexin, followed by groups treated with amoxicillin clavulanic acid combination and gatifloxacin. 16srRNA riboyping was used to type seven isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis, the most commonly isolated pathogen in this study. Three different genotypes were identified among which type b was predominated. Based on the severity of lesions and less response to treatment, it can be concluded that type a is the most pathogenic strain.