Identification of the major coagulase-positive Staphylococcus sp of dogs as Staphylococcus intermedius.

Specimens obtained from the skin of healthy dogs and from various surgical and pyogenic lesions were culturally examined for coagulase-positive staphylococci. The isolates of Staphylococcus were biotyped, using hemolysin production, coagulase production, and the biochemical tests contained in a commercial Staphylococcus identification system. A total of 72 coagulase-positive isolates were biotyped, with 70/72 identified as S intermedius and 2/72, as S aureus. All of the S intermedius isolates were coagulase-positive with canine plasma.