Two coagulase-negative staphylococci emerging as potential zoonotic pathogens: wolves in sheep's clothing?

Staphylococcus simulans: An emerging cutaneous pathogen

“…Previously classified as rare opportunistic agents, Staphylococcus lugdunensis and Staphylococcus schleiferi are additional CoNS with emerging pathogenicity 6 . Limited data exist explaining how these species are gaining pathogenicity, but shared virulence factors with Staphylococcus aureus have been documented in infectious animal isolates, including staphylococcal enterotoxins, tissue necrosis cytotoxin Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl), and the methicillin-resistance gene, mecA (Table I).…”

“…Limited data exist explaining how these species are gaining pathogenicity, but shared virulence factors with Staphylococcus aureus have been documented in infectious animal isolates, including staphylococcal enterotoxins, tissue necrosis cytotoxin Panton-Valentine leukocidin (pvl), and the methicillin-resistance gene, mecA (Table I). 2, 6 Importantly, mecA-positive CoNS are able to horizontally transfer their genes within the staphylococcal genus with the potential to give rise to new methicillin-resistant strains 2 . Theoretically, with horizontal gene transfer possible, staphylococcal strains could acquire the ability to generate superantigens and cytotoxins, amplifying their virulence.…”

Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococci at the Human– Animal Interface

“…Two staphylococcal species, S. lugdunensis and S. schleferi, have been described as emerging zoonotic pathogens [71]. Staphylococcus lugdunensis, which is known to cause skin infections and invasive infections, such as endocarditis, osteomyelitis and sepsis in humans, has more recently been described as an animal pathogen implicated in respiratory and skin infections [71,72].…”

“…Two staphylococcal species, S. lugdunensis and S. schleferi, have been described as emerging zoonotic pathogens [71]. Staphylococcus lugdunensis, which is known to cause skin infections and invasive infections, such as endocarditis, osteomyelitis and sepsis in humans, has more recently been described as an animal pathogen implicated in respiratory and skin infections [71,72]. Staphylococcus schleiferi, which has typically been associated with skin infections in pet animals, has also been found associated with endocarditis and metastatic infection as well as endophthalmitis in humans [73,74].…”

Genotypic relatedness and antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus schleiferi in clinical samples from dogs in different geographic regions of the United States

“…In dogs it has been isolated from lesions of pyoderma, otitis externa and media, as well as from urine, cerebrospinal fluid and the respiratory tract . Reports of infections caused by S. schleiferi are increasing in both human and veterinary medicine …”