Chitra, M. AnandaJayanthy, C.Nagarajan, B.TANUVAS2018-04-132018-04-132018-01http://krishikosh.egranth.ac.in/handle/1/5810043415TNV_PNAS_2018_88(1)355-361Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (SP) is the major pathogen incriminated in the skin infections of dog. Identification of SP requires molecular methods. The incidence of methicillin resistant SP (MRSP) is increasing worldwide and it is a growing concern in treating pet animals. The prevalence of SP and MRSP from skin infections of dog in India has not been studied previously. Hence, the present study was aimed to isolate SP from common skin infections of dog in Chennai, India and to characterize these isolates. A total of 53 SP organisms were isolated from 91 samples of skin infection accounting for 59 % of isolation rate. Labrador was a major breed from which isolation was made. Panton–Valentine leucotoxin (Luk-I) and S. intermedius exfoliative toxin (siet) genes were detected in all SP isolates but staphylococcal protein A homologue (spsQ) gene was detected only in 36 % of the SP isolates. Out of 53 isolates, 17 % were found to be strong and 19 % to be moderate producers of biofilm and 28 % were classified as MRSP due to possession of the mecA gene. Most isolates were sensitive to tetracycline and ciprofloxacin and least sensitive to erythromycin and trimethoprim/sulphamethaxazole. The authors first time reported the isolation of MRSP, characterization of SP isolates by detecting virulence genes, biofilm forming ability and susceptibility to antimicrobials in Chennai, India.enVeterinary ScienceArticle