Not just in man's best friend: A review of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius host range and human zoonosis

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is one species in the commensal staphylococcal population in dogs. While it is commonly carried on healthy companion dogs it is also an opportunistic pathogen associated with a range of skin, ear, wound and other infections. While adapted to dogs, it is not restricted to them, and we have reviewed its host range, including increasing reports of human colonisation and infections. Despite its association with pet dogs, S. pseudintermedius is found widely in animals, covering companion, livestock and free-living species of birds and mammals. Human infections, typically in immunocompromised individuals, are increasingly being recognised, in part due to improved diagnosis. Colonisation, infection, and antimicrobial resistance, including frequent multidrug resistance, among S. pseudintermedius isolates represent important One Health challenges. •Not just in man's best friend: a review of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius host range and human zoonosis.•Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is a common commensal and pathogen in dogs.•Although adapted to dogs it has been isolated from a wide range of host species.•Zoonotic human infections are becoming increasingly recognised.•AMR in S. pseudintermedius make this an important One Health challenge.