7^th International Veterinary Congress

Biography

Biography: Alper Ciftci

Abstract

Statement of the Problem: Staphylococcal mastitis is one of the major economic problems of cattle. The aim of this study was to identify Staphylococcus species that cause mastitis, to examine the virulence factors of these species and to determine the relation between these factors with the pathogenic and apathogenic species.

Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: In this study, 84 Staphylococcus strains isolated from milk samples of 120 cows with clinical and sub-clinical mastitis and 80 healthy cows in different herds in the Aydın region were examined. The species-specific identification of Staphylococcus spp. was carried out with a commercial identification kit (Api-Staph, Bio Merieux®, Lyon, France). The virulence factors of the Staphylococcus isolates were determined with regard to coagulase, protein A, DNase, TNase, capsule, slime and biofilm, hemolytic activity, staphylokinase, hemagglutination, methicillin resistance tests.

Findings: In the study, 37 S. aureus, 13 S. hyicus, 9 S. simulans, 8 S. chromogenes, 5 S. lentus, 5 S. epidermidis, 2 S. haemolyticus, 2 S. hominis, 1 S. auricularis, 1 S. warneri, 1 S. sciuri were isolated and identified. The 41.6% of strains were determined as coagulase positive. In the coagulase positive strains, the rate of protein A, DNase, TNase, capsule, hemolyse, staphylokinase, slime (in agar), biofilm (microdilution) and hemagglutination characteristics  were found 71.4%, 48.6%, 11.4%, 40%, 97.1%, 40%, 28.6%, 37.1% and 17.1%, respectively. In the coagulase negative strains, the rate of these characteristics were found 10.2%, 12.2%, 2%, 8.2%, 82%, 32.7%, 12.2%, 12.2% and 10.2%, respectively. The methicillin resistance rates in the coagulase positive and negative strains were determined as 2.9 and 16.3%.  

Conclusion & Significance: In conclusion, it was of the opinion that animals are potential carrier of Staphylococcus strains that are pathogen for human.