Systemic Staphylococcus aureus infection in a free-ranging raccoon (Procyon lotor)

Abstract

Gross and histopathologic findings are described in an adult male raccoon (Procyon lotor) with Staphylococcus aureus infection affecting several organs. At the time of necropsy the carcass was jaundiced and in poor nutritional state. A large, raised, irregular necrotic mass was present in the spleen. The liver had small multifocal, pale yellow, randomly distributed foci throughout the parenchyma. Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus was cultured from both the liver and the spleen. Microscopic lesions were present in spleen, liver, kidney, and heart, which suggested systemic infection. Although S. aureus has been cultured from raccoons previously, the bacterium did not appear to have been associated with pathology. In this case, S. aureus was obtained as a pure culture, but microscopic examination did not show large numbers of bacterial colonies as seen in other species with such lesions.