Introduction

Classification

Taxonomy

• Family: Micrococcaceae.
• Genus: Staphylococcus.
• Species: epidermidis.

Etymology

• Greek: epidermidis - of the epidermis.

Active Forms

Clinical Effects

Epidemiology

Habitat

• Predominant among normal flora of skin.
• Also colonizes the upper respiratory tract.

Lifecycle

• Reproduces by binary fission in several planes to form clusters.
• Does not form spores.

Transmission

• Spread by direct and indirect contact.

Pathological effects

• Not usually pathogenic.

Other Host Effects

• Commensal.

Control

Control via chemotherapies

• Not usually pathogenic, therefore treatment rarely required.
• Susceptible to many common antimicrobials.

Diagnosis

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Takahashi T, Kaneko M, Mori Y et al (1997) Phylogenetic analysis of Staphylococcus based on the 16S rDNA sequence and assignment of clinical isolates from animals. J Vet Med Sci 59 (9), 775-783 PubMed.
• Igimi S, Atobe H, Tohya Y et al (1994) Characterization of the most frequently encountered Staphylococcus sp. in cats. Vet Microbiol 39 (3-4), 255-260 PubMed.
• Krogh H V, Kristensen S (1976) A study of skin diseases in dogs and cats. II. Microflora of the normal skin of dogs and cats. Nord Vet Med 28 (9), 459-463 PubMed.