Prevalence and Bacteriological Characterization of Canine Superficial Pyoderma
Saloni Chouhan
Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Pawan Maheshwari *
Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Nidhi S. Choudhary
Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Ravi Sikrodia
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
G. P. Jatav
Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Deva Ram Bheel
Department of Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Mhow, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Superficial pyoderma is an important bacterial dermatological disorder in dogs. The present study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of superficial pyoderma and characterise the bacterial organisms associated with the condition. A total of 1,874 dogs presented to the Veterinary Clinical Complex, Mhow, were screened, of which 418 were diagnosed with dermatological disorders. Dogs showing lesions suggestive of superficial pyoderma were clinically examined and samples were collected aseptically from pustules, exudates and pus for bacteriological examination. Samples were enriched in Brain Heart Infusion broth and subjected to Gram staining, cultural examination and biochemical tests. Of the 1,874 dogs screened, 79 were diagnosed with superficial pyoderma, giving an overall prevalence of 4.21%, while the condition accounted for 22.30% of skin diseases. The highest age-wise prevalence was recorded in dogs aged 1–7 years (40.38%), followed by 6–12 months (14.29%), >7 years (9.82%) and 0–6 months (8.42%). Breed-wise, Labrador Retrievers showed the highest prevalence (29.90%), followed by German Shepherds (22.07%) and Pomeranians (17.95%). Sex-wise prevalence was higher in males (25.21%) than females (11.17%). Bacteriological examination revealed Staphylococcus spp. as the predominant isolate, recovered alone from 74 samples (93.67%), while mixed infection with Staphylococcus spp. and Escherichia coli was detected in 5 samples (6.33%). The findings highlight the importance of bacteriological examination for accurate identification of bacterial organisms associated with canine superficial pyoderma.
Keywords: Dogs, superficial pyoderma, prevalence, bacteriological profile, Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli