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Identification of Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci Isolated from Bovine Milk

Identifiering av koagulaspositiva stafylokocker isolerade från bovin mjölk

Abstract

A total of 414 coagulase-positive staphylococcal strains obtained at the mastitis laboratory, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden, were studied. One hundred and seventy seven strains were used for a frequency study. Ninety-seven per cent were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, 2% as Staphylococcus intermedius and 1% as Staphylococcus hyicus. Two hundred and thirty seven strains with atypical hemolysis reactions on bovine blood agar were randomly selected, with the aim to increase the number of S. intermedius and S. hyicus strains available for testing. Eight different characteristics, including physiological, enzymatical and biochemical properties, were used to identify the coagulase-positive Staphylococcus species. The results of this study suggest that the following tests should be included for correct identification of the 3 different species of coagulase-positive staphylococci: P agar supplemented with acriflavin, β-galactosidase and hemolytic reaction on chocolate agar. These 3 tests are simple and quick to perform and enable accurate for easy differentiation of the 3 coagulase-positive Staphylococcus species.

Sammanfattning

En undersökning har genomforts där sammanlagt 414 koagulaspositiva stafylokockstammar studerats. Stammarna var isolerade från mjölk från fall av mastit i samband med rutinverksamheten vid Avdelningen för mastit, Statens Veterinärmedicinska Anstalt, Uppsala, Sverige. Av dessa 414 stammar ingick 177 stammar i en frekvensstudie, varvid 97% av stammarna identifierades som Staphylococcus aureus, 2% som Staphylococcus intermedius och 1% som Staphylococcus hyicus. Ytterligare 237 stammar med atypisk hemolysreaktion på nötblodagar valdes ut i syfte art öka antalet Staphylococcus intermedius-och Staphylococcus hyicus-stammar tillgängliga för testning. Åtta olika karaktärisktika, inkluderande fysiologiska, enzymatiska och biokemiska egenskaper, användes för att identifiera de koagulaspositiva stafylokockarterna. Baserat på resultatet av denna studie föreslås att följande tester kan användas för en säker identifiering av de 3 olika arterna av koagulaspositiva stafylokocker: Ρ agar med acriflavin, β-galactosidas och hemolytisk reaktion på chokladagar. Dessa 3 tester är okomplicerade och snabba att genomföra vilket möjliggör en enkel, snabb och korrekt differentiering av de 3 koagulaspositiva stafylokockarterna.

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Correspondence to C. Concha.

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Capurro, A., Concha, C., Nilsson, L. et al. Identification of Coagulase-Positive Staphylococci Isolated from Bovine Milk. Acta Vet Scand 40, 315–321 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547011

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