First Molecular Characterization of Siphoviridae-Like Bacteriophages Infecting Staphylococcus hyicus in a Case of Exudative Epidermitis

Exudative epidermitis (EE), also known as greasy pig disease, is one of the most frequent skin diseases affecting piglets. Zoonotic infections in human occur. EE primarily caused by virulent strains Staphylococcus ( S .) hyicus . Generally, antibiotic treatment this pathogen prone to decreasing success, due incremental development multiple resistances bacteria against antibiotics. Once approved, bacteriophages might offer interesting alternatives for environmental sanitation or individualized treatment, subject absence virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes. However, genetic characterization S. has, so far, been missing. Therefore, we investigated a piglet raising farm with stock problem EE. We isolated eleven phages from environment wash water piglets diagnosed causative agent EE, i.e., The were morphologically characterized electron microscopy, where they appeared Siphoviridae -like. genomes two sequenced on MiSeq instrument (Illumina), resulting identification new phage, PITT-1 (PMBT8), temperate PITT-5 (PMBT9). Sequencing three host ) single revealed presence different genes coding exfoliative toxin genes, exh A (2 strains) C (1 strain). C-positive strain was only weakly lysed lytic phages. occurrence same outbreak limits prospects successful phage argues simultaneous use attacking host.