Characterization of Cutaneous Bacterial Microbiota from Superficial Pyoderma Forms in Atopic Dogs

Abstract

Although Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is considered the major pathogen associated with superficial canine pyoderma, no study has investigated the entire bacterial community in these lesions with molecular techniques. The objectives of this study were to characterize the bacterial microbiota in two forms of superficial canine pyoderma lesions, superficial bacterial folliculitis (SBF) and epidermal collarette (EC), especially in terms of the staphylococcal community. Swabs from 12 SBF and 9 EC lesions were obtained from eight and six atopic dogs, respectively. Eight samples from the axilla and groin of four healthy dogs served as controls. DNA was extracted for 16S rRNA gene sequencing and quantitative polymerase chain reaction of Staphylococcus spp. and S. pseudintermedius. Healthy skin samples harbored significantly more diverse bacterial communities than pyoderma samples. Healthy samples had communities that were more similar to each other, and were distinct from pyoderma samples. Staphylococcus spp. abundance was increased in pyoderma samples, especially those from EC samples. Although determining species-level identities of staphylococcal sequences revealed many species, S. pseudintermedius was the primary staphylococcal species found in all sample types. As expected, there are many differences in the microbiota when comparing healthy and canine pyoderma lesions samples. These lesions do not seem to be associated with a change in the relative abundance of specific Staphylococcus species, but simply an overall increase in Staphylococcus spp. abundance. The results of this study provide a starting point for future studies investigating how antimicrobial treatments may further change the microbiota associated with these lesions.

Preliminary functional analysis of the subgingival microbiota of cats with periodontitis and feline chronic gingivostomatitis

“…Biogenesis of cytochrome c oxidases, biogenesis of cbb3 type cytochrome c oxidases, succinate dehydrogenase hydrophobic membrane anchor protein, and type cbb3 cytochrome oxidase biogenesis protein Ccol were all significantly enriched in the periodontally healthy group described in this study. In agreement with these findings, the predicted microbial feature aerobic respiration I (cytochrome c) was previously identified as significant for cats without gingivitis compared to cats with gingivitis using PICRUSt2 based on the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene 31 . The cytochrome c oxidases are terminal oxidases that accept electrons from cytochrome c and transfer in reactions to produce H 2 O 39 .…”

“…The presence of Actinobacteria has also been described in the oral microbiota of healthy cats 12 , 17 , 19 , 20 , 30 and a relative abundance < 10% has been found in feline subgingival plaque samples regardless of periodontal status 17 , which is in agreement with the present study. Also, Older et al 31 identified lower relative abundances of Actinobacteria in FIV (feline immunodeficiency virus) positive cats with gingivitis compared to cats without gingivitis.…”

Characterization of staphylococcal communities on healthy and allergic feline skin

“…abundance was found to be higher in samples from affected relative to healthy canine samples and S. pseudintermedius was the predominant species in both sample types. 7 Collectively, these results suggest that unlike in human skin, there does not seem to be a difference in the relative abundance of specific Staphylococcus species between healthy and allergic skin in dogs.…”

Antimicrobials from a feline commensal bacterium inhibit skin infection by drug-resistant S. pseudintermedius

“…Interestingly, the prevalence of AD in humans and AD in dogs are similar (10–15% in US) and present with remarkably similar immunological and clinical manifestations ( Marsella and Girolomoni, 2009 ; Silverberg, 2019 ). Likewise, several studies have reported a decrease in the microbiome diversity of AD and increased colonization of S aureus in humans and S. pseudintermedius in dogs ( Fazakerley et al, 2009 ; Nakatsuji and Gallo, 2019 ; Older et al, 2020 ). In human AD, S. aureus was identified in higher relative abundances during disease flares ( Kong et al, 2012 ).…”