STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS INFECTION

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Causative Agent(s)

Staphylococcus aureus is the only staphylococcal species apart from S. hyicus to be consistently isolated from lesions in pigs S. aureus is a Gram’s positive coccoid organism.

Although S. aureus rarely causes disease and is not associated with outbreaks, it is known to cause skin infections, septicaemia, mastitis, vaginitis, metritis, osteomyelitis, and endocarditis in pigs.

Clinical Presentation and Epidemiology

It is frequently found in pig pens and on the skin of normal pigs worldwide. Most cases occur in individual animals.

Animal-to-animal spread is rare.

Cases of neonatal septicaemia are usually fatal, and survivors become stunted.

Other clinical signs observed are diarrhoea, umbilical abscesses, and polyarthritis. The pathologic lesions observed are vegetative endocarditis with cardiac enlargement.

In chronic cases, abscesses of the skin, umbilicus, bones, joints, mammary glands, and internal organs are observed.

Osteomyelitis of the vertebrae, pustular vaginal discharges due to endometritis and sporadic abortions are sometimes noticed.

Diagnostic Considerations

Diagnosis of S. aureus is based on culture and isolation of the organism on blood agar and Gram staining.

Biochemical tests available for Staphylococcus aureus are catalase, coagulase, mannitol, Voges– Proskauer.

Management and Treatment

Prompt treatment is advised.

Culture and sensitivity test is recommended. Penicillin, 20,000 IU/kg b wt, q24h, 5 days I.M. Chlortetracycline, 10mg/kg b.w., 24h 5 days I.M. Oxytetracycline L.A. 20mg/kg b.w., single dose.

Ceftiofur, 3mg/kg b.w., q24h 5 days I.M. and Enrofloxacin, 5 mg/kg b.w., q24h 5 days, are good choices whenever culture and sensitivity cannot be done

S. aureus infection is an individual animal problem, therefore there is usually no need to treat the entire herd.

Other approaches to reduce spread include draining of individual abscesses surgically. Cleaning of pens with disinfectants such as phenols, hypochlorites, iodine, and iodophors.