Molecular epidemiology of S. schleiferi and S. coagulans in humans and dogs

Staphylococcus schleiferi causes skin and ear infections in dogs and sometimes severe infections in humans. S. schleiferi was until recently classified as two subspecies (subsp. schleiferi and subsp. coagulans)but after recent reclassification they are considered as two separate species – S. schleiferi and S. coagulans. Their taxonomic reclassification and different epidemiology prompted the importance of understanding what differentiates the two species. This study investigated the species differentiation based on their genomes in routine diagnostics and explored the molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of the different species.