[Epidemiological investigation of staphylococcal infections in stocks of SPF-animall (author's transl)].

The occurrence and spread of staphylococcal infections in stocks of SPF-animals were studied over a period of more than three years. The results were compared with observations made by other authors. Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from both sick and healthy animals (mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs) as well as from veterinary staff were lysotyped with the international phage set for epidemiological investigations. The majority of the lysotypes demonstrated in sick mice and rats belonged to lysogroup III (77% and 96% respectively). S. aureus strains with the phage patterns III 6/42E/47/53/54/75/83A/ +, III 54/83A and III 54/83A/85 were most common amongst these animals. The lysotype 80/3c/47/53/54/75/84/85 + occurred in rabbits and guinea pigs only. S. aureus strains of lysogroup I and II, which are frequently involved in skin infections of man, were either found only very scarcely or not at all discovered in the animals tested. Among the veterinary personnel staphylococcal strains of the lysogroups I and III as well as non-classificable strains occurred at a similar rate of approximately 25% each. Several lysotypes (I 29, III 42E/47/53/54/75/77/84/ + M 187) persisted in members of the staff over a stretch of two to three years without causing infection to the animals under their charge. On the other hand, lysotypes isolated from infection sites (abscesses) in the animals were mostly found also in swabs from the nasopharynx of healthy animals and the personnel. The implications of the importation and the spreading of Staphylococci in animal stocks by veterinary staff are pointed out. Factors promoting staphylococcal diseases in animals and measures to prevent S. aureus infection from SPF-animal stocks are discussed.