Research article2010Peer reviewedOpen access
Identification of potential sources of Staphylococcus aureus in herds with mastitis problems
Capurro, Aldo; Aspàn, Anna; Ericsson Unnerstad, Helle; Persson Waller, Karin; Artursson, Karin
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a common udder pathogen of dairy cows that often causes herd problems. Various mastitis control programs have been used to combat the problem but have not always been efficient in preventing new Staph. aureus infections, indicating the presence of possible sources of infection other than those traditionally considered. Therefore, the aim of the study was to identify potential sources of infection relevant for Staph. aureus mastitis within 5 dairy herds with udder health problems caused by Staph. aureus. Samples were collected from milk of lactating cows, from body sites, and from the environment of lactating cows, dry cows, late pregnant heifers, young heifers 4 to 12 mo old, and heifer calves 0 to 3 mo old. Isolates of Staph. aureus were identified and compared using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Four to 7 unique Staph. aureus pulsotypes were found within each herd, with one strain predominating in milk in each herd. The milk pulsotypes were also frequently isolated in body samples, especially on hock skin, and in the immediate environment of lactating cows, and were sometimes found in other animal groups, especially in dry cows and heifer calves 0 to 3 mo old. The prevalence of Staph. aureus in milk and other types of samples varied markedly between herds. Staphylococcus aureus isolates with genotypes indistinguishable from those found in milk also dominated in extra-mammary sites within the dairy herds studied, and hock skin was identified as an important reservoir of Staph. aureus. The results contribute new knowledge necessary to improve strategies for udder health control in herds.
Keywords
bovine mastitis; Staphylococcus aureus; pulsed-field gel electrophoresis; extra-mammary sites
Published in
Journal of Dairy Science
2010, volume: 93, number: 1, pages: 180-191
Publisher: AMER DAIRY SCIENCE ASSOC-ADSA
SLU Authors
Persson Waller, Karin
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
UKÄ Subject classification
Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2471
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/60592