Characterisation of Staphylococcus aureus strain causing severe respiratory disease in rabbits

Staphylococcus aureus is acknowledged as one of the important pathogens isolated from humans and animals. However, the S. aureus causing severe respiratory diseases in rabbits have not been well characterised. A S. aureus named FZHW001, isolated from the lungs of dead rabbits with severe respiratory disease, was characterised by artificial infection of rabbits, detection of virulence factors, multi-locus sequencing typing and antimicrobial susceptibility test. The FZHW001 infected rabbits showed identical respiratory symptoms to those of naturally infected ones, and the isolate could spread through directed contact among rabbits. The isolate was typed into clonal complex 121 and carried 7 of 13 tested virulence factors. Furthermore, the isolate was identified to be methicillin-susceptible S. aureus and was susceptible to 7 of 12 tested antibiotics. This study first describes the characteristics of S. aureus isolated from rabbits causing severe respiratory disease, which will help in further understanding the pathogenic mechanisms of S. aureus in rabbits.