Staphylococcus Flashcards
What are the general characteristics of Staphylococcus spp.?
- Gram +
- Cocci in clusters
- Facultative Anaerobes
- Grow in HIGH Salt concentrations (7.5 - 10%)
- Catalase Positive (differentiate from streptococcus)
What disease does S. aureus cause?
- Mastitis in cattle, sheep, and goats
What disease does S. pseudintermedius cause?
- Pyoderma, Otitis externa, endometritis, cystitis in Dogs
What disease does S. hylcus cause?
- Exudative or Exfoliative dermatitis “Greasy pig disease” in Pigs
- Skin infections in other animals
What are the diagnostic characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus?
- Double Zone hemolysis
- Ferments Mannitol
- Turns Mannitol Salt Agar Yellow
Where can S. aureus be found?
- Commensals on the skin and mucous membranes
- Nostrils are a major site
What are the Virulence Factors of S. aureus?
- Divided in 3 categories:
- Cell-Associated Components
- Exoenzymes
- Exotoxins
What are the Cell-Associated Components of Virulence Factors?
- Surface Proteins:
- Protein A
- Adhesins
- Capsular polysaccharides
- peptidoglycan and teichoic acid
What does Protein A do?
- Virulence Factor
- Binds to Fc region of IgG
- disrupts opsonization and phagocytosis
What do Adhesins do?
- Virulence Factor
- Surface proteins that promote attachment to the host proteins
- Fibronectin-binding protein
- Collagen-Binding protein
What are capsular polysaccharides?
- Serologically distinct capsule types
- Interfere with host defense mechanisms by inhibiting attachment of antibodies, induce the release of cytokines
- Mediate cell binding to epithelial and endothelial cells
What does peptidoglycan and teichoic acid do?
stimulate cytokine production
What are the Exoenzymes
- Coagulase
- Lipase
- Hyaluronidase
- Proteases
What does Coagulase do?
- Converts fibrinogen to fibrin
What does Lipase do?
- Hydrolyzes lipid molecules that the host produces in response to infections
What does Hyaluronidase do?
- Digests hyaluronic acid present in connective tissue and promotes spread of the infection
What do Proteases do?
- Breakdown antibodies, antimicrobial peptides, tissue proteins
What do Proteases do?
- Breakdown antibodies, antimicrobial peptides, tissue proteins
What are Exotoxins in staphylococcus spp.
- Toxic Shock Syndrome Toxin
- Enterotoxins
- Exfoliative or Epidermolytic toxins
- Hemolysins
What is toxic shock syndrome toxin?
- Act as super-antigens
- rarely seen in infections