Unilateral scrotal pyocele in ram caused by Staphylococcus capitis.

A massive unilateral scrotal pyocele caused by Staphylococcus capitis in a 6-year-old ram is reported. Ultrasound examination of the right hemiscrotum showed an irregular hyperechoic mass in an anechoic fluid. A dense exudate was collected from the scrotum for microbiological analysis. Grossly, there was an extensive greenish purulent exudate and a completely atrophied right testis. Coagulase-negative S. capitis was isolated in pure culture. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of genital infection by S. capitis in rams. This microorganism should be included in the differential diagnosis of ovine genital infections.

[1]  J. Ling,et al.  Persistent Staphylococcus capitis septicemia in a preterm infant. , 2006, The Pediatric infectious disease journal.

[2]  L. Cone,et al.  Staphylococcus capitis endocarditis due to a transvenous endocardial pacemaker infection: case report and review of Staphylococcus capitis endocarditis. , 2005, International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases.

[3]  G. Keefe,et al.  Bacteriology and somatic cell counts in milk samples from ewes on a Scottish farm. , 2004, Canadian journal of veterinary research = Revue canadienne de recherche veterinaire.

[4]  P. Baird,et al.  Investigation and management of necrotising orchitis associated with a scrotal haematoma in a Texel ram , 2003, Veterinary Record.

[5]  A. Burriel.  Isolation of coagulase-negative staphylococci from the milk and environment of sheep , 1998, Journal of Dairy Research.

[6]  S. Sato,et al.  Human Skin Flora as a Potential Source of Epidural Abscess , 1996, Anesthesiology.

[7]  M. Bes,et al.  Enterotoxin production by coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from goats' milk and cheese. , 1996, International journal of food microbiology.

[8]  P. Christensen,et al.  Bacterial Flora of Semen Collected from Danish Warmblood Stallions by Artificial Vagina , 1995, Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica.

[9]  R. Weiss,et al.  [The occurrence and significance of plasma coagulase negative staphylococci from the genital tract of horses]. , 1989, DTW. Deutsche tierarztliche Wochenschrift.

[10]  B. Leamaster,et al.  Association of age of ram with distribution of epididymal lesions and etiologic agent. , 1986, Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

[11]  Y. Jones,et al.  Characterization of staphylococci associated with clinical and subclinical bovine mastitis. , 1984, New Zealand veterinary journal.

[12]  G. Burgess.  An abattoir survey of lesions in the scrotal contents of rams. , 1983, Australian Veterinary Journal.

[13]  E. J. Young,et al.  Clinical significance of coagulase-negative staphylococci , 1982, Journal of clinical microbiology.

[14]  S. Kimura,et al.  Occurrence of staphylococci in the oral cavities of healthy adults and nasal oral trafficking of the bacteria. , 2008, Journal of medical microbiology.

[15]  K. Schleifer,et al.  Isolation and Characterization of Staphylococci from Human Skin II. Descriptions of Four New Species: Staphylococcus warneri, Staphylococcus capitis, Staphylococcus hominis, and Staphylococcus simulans1 , 1975 .