Streptococcus constellatus-associated pyoderma in a dog

J Med Microbiol. 2012 Mar;61(Pt 3):438-442. doi: 10.1099/jmm.0.033845-0. Epub 2011 Nov 10.

Abstract

This report describes a case of chronic and deep pyodermitis in a 4-year-old male dog with a 3-month skin problems history that had been treated unsuccessfully with fluoroquinolone therapy, prescribed by a private medical veterinary practice, without an early diagnosis. Microbiological examination and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed in our laboratory (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine) and a diagnosis of Streptococcus constellatus-associated pyoderma in the dog was made. A new antimicrobial treatment, with tetracyclines, was designed after the definitive diagnosis and antimicrobial susceptibility testing performed by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. The dog remained free of clinical illness at completion of therapy. To our knowledge, this is the first case of a canine pyoderma caused by S. constellatus, a commensal organism which may also cause pyogenic infections. Furthermore, this study confirms that a fluoroquinolone represents a poor empirical choice for initial therapy of canine pyoderma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Dog Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Dog Diseases / drug therapy
  • Dog Diseases / microbiology*
  • Dog Diseases / pathology
  • Dogs
  • Histocytochemistry
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Microscopy
  • Pyoderma / diagnosis
  • Pyoderma / drug therapy
  • Pyoderma / microbiology
  • Pyoderma / veterinary*
  • Skin / pathology
  • Streptococcal Infections / diagnosis
  • Streptococcal Infections / drug therapy
  • Streptococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Streptococcal Infections / veterinary*
  • Streptococcus constellatus / isolation & purification*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents