Association between production of fibrinolysin and virulence of Staphylococcus hyicus in relation to exudative epidermitis in pigs.

is the causative agent of exudative epidermitis (EE) in pigs, characterized by a generalized infection of the skin with greasy exudation and exfoliation ( 1966). is a natural part of the skin flora of healthy pigs worldwide ( 1992), and several different strains may simultaneously colonize the same pig ( 1993a). Both virulent and avirulent strains can be present simultaneously on diseased piglets ( 1993), and virulent strains can be isolated from healthy carriers ( 1977, 1988). The pathogenesis of EE has only been studied in a limited number of studies, but EE most likely occurs as a consequence of skin trauma that exposes the dermis and facilitates establishment of virulent strains. The exact mechanism of infection is not known, but a number of potential virulence factors including capsule production, protein A, coagulase and catalase production has been suggested as potential virulence factors in the initial pathogenesis of EE ( 1990). (1979) showed that virulent strains of produced an exotoxin that resulted in the separation of cells in the epidermis which caused exfoliative lesions. The endotoxin has recently been found to be a protein of approximately 30 kDa ( 1993, 1997).