Background -Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae is a widespread Gram-positive, nonsporulating rod bacterium predominantly associated with skin disease in swine and cetaceans. Cutaneous lesions have yet to be described in dogs.Objective -To describe the clinical presentation, molecular and histopathological diagnosis, and treatment of a case of erysipeloid caused by E. rhusiopathiae in a dog.Animals -A 6-month-old spayed female standard poodle dog presented with lethargy, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea. Skin lesions appeared 20 days post first examination.Methods and materials -Complete blood count, serum chemistry profile, urinalysis, urine culture, blood culture, computed topography, forelimb radiography, joint and cerebrospinal fluid aspiration were performed; samples were collected for skin cytological evaluation, culture and histopathological analysis.Results -Blood cultures yielded Gram-positive, catalase-negative bacilli. Histopathological evaluation of skin biopsies revealed lymphoplasmacytic, neutrophilic and histiocytic perivascular and periadnexal dermatitis, and vasculitis. Cutaneous and blood PCR and sequencing of 16S rRNA identified the bacteria as E. rhusiopathiae. Clinical resolution was observed following the use of of amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and ciprofloxacin therapies.Conclusions and clinical importance -To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first confirmed case of erysipeloid caused by E. rhusiopathiae in a dog. Clinical resolution was attained with the extended use of antibiotics. After 13 months, no clinical signs had returned.

Increased antimicrobial resistance highlights the need for alternatives to antibiotics. Bacteriophages, which are benign viruses that kill bacteria, are promising. We studied the efficacy of topical bacteriophages for treating equine staphylococcal superficial pyodermas. Eight Staphylococcus aureus isolates were tested against a bacteriophage bank, and a cocktail consisting of two bacteriophages was prepared. Twenty horses with clinical and cytological evidence of superficial pyoderma and confirmed S. aureus infection based on swabbed culture were enrolled in the study. Each horse received both the bacteriophage cocktail and the placebo at two different infection sites, once daily for four weeks. Clinical lesions and cytology were evaluated weekly by an investigator who was unaware of the treatment sites. All infection sites were swabbed and cultured at the end of the study. A linear mixed model showed no significant differences between the placebo and treatment sites in terms of clinical signs, cytological scores of inflammation, and bacterial counts at the end of the study. It is possible that the bacteriophage cocktail killed S. aureus, but cytology scores did not change as new populations of cocci took over. The study limitations included a small sample size and inconsistent control of the underlying causes of pyodermas.

A 7-year-old spayed female domestic longhair cat was presented to the University of Florida Veterinary Hospital for evaluation of inappetence and increased serum liver enzyme activities at the referring veterinarian. The cat lived primarily outdoors, was known for catching lizards, and had no travel history outside of Florida. On physical examination, the cat was febrile, with a body temperature of 103.9°F, and was icteric. A CBC (ADVIA 2120 Hematology System; Siemens Healthcare GmbH) revealed a mild leukocytosis (WBC 16.1 K/µL, RI 5.4-15.4) characterized by a mature neutrophilia (13.1 K/µL, RI 2.3-9.8) and mild thrombocytosis (PLT 520 K/µL, RI 160-502). On slide review, most neutrophils contained Döhle bodies, consistent with mild toxicity. A serum biochemistry profile (Beckman Coulter AU480; Beckman Coulter Inc) showed moderate hyperbilirubinemia (8.8 mg/dL, RI 0.1-0.4), markedly increased ALT activity (1277 U/L, 32-83), moderately increased AST activity (294 U/L, RI 13-43), mildly increased ALP activity (211 UL, RI 11-60), and mild hypochloremia (108.8 mEq/L, RI 112-119). On abdominal ultrasound, the gallbladder and common bile duct were mildly distended with mildly thickened walls. Bile was submitted for cytologic evaluation (Figure 1).

Previous studies documented antibiotic resistance in horses but did not focus on skin specifically. We investigated antibiotic resistance and correlations between resistance patterns in skin infections. Records from 2009 to 2019 were searched for Staphylococcal infection and susceptibility results. Seventy-seven cases were included. Organisms identified were S. aureus (48/77), S. pseudintermedius (7/77), non-hemolytic Staphylococcus (8/77), beta-hemolytic Staphylococcus (6/77), and other species (8/77). Samples included pyoderma (36/77), wounds (10/77), abscesses (15/77), incision sites (5/77), nose (8/77), and foot (3/77). A trend analysis using non-parametric Spearman’s test showed significant upward trend of resistance (p < 0.05) for 3/15 antibiotics (ampicillin, cefazolin, penicillin). Susceptibility was significantly different by Staphylococcal species for 8/15 antibiotics. Gentamicin showed significant susceptibility differences based on source (all abscesses were susceptible to gentamicin). Steel-Dwass test showed statistically significant (p = 0.003) difference between incision sites and abscesses. A non-parametric Kendall’s T-test found significantly negative correlation between cefazolin and amikacin sensitivity (p = 0.0108) and multiple positive correlations of resistance (p < 0.05). This study confirms increasing resistance in dermatologic samples. It is unlikely that the sample source affects resistance, but Staphylococcus species may affect it. Study limitations include lack of information about previous antibiotic use and small sample size.

Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) lasers are used for a variety of soft tissue procedures. This report describes their use in dermatitis associated with feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV) in two cheetahs. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first report describing CO 2 laser use to adjunctively treat FHV-associated skin lesions.CO 2 laser, feline herpesvirus 1 dermatitis | 357 Veterinary Dermatology CO 2 LASER FOR HERPESVIRUS DERMATITIS IN CHEETAHS