Coagulase-negative staphylococci as cause of bovine mastitis- not so different from Staphylococcus aureus?

In this review of the literature, mastitis-causing coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) and Staphylococcus aureus are compared. Staphylococci are the bacteria most commonly isolated from bovine mastitis, and CNS are now predominant over S. aureus in most countries. CNS include various species, but only a few prevail in bovine mastitis. S. aureus can cause clinical mastitis, but often causes subclinical mastitis, which remains persistent and increases milk somatic cell count. CNS, traditionally regarded as minor pathogens, seem to lack the ability to cause severe mastitis. CNS can, however, persist in the mammary gland and moderately increase milk somatic cell count. Resistance to various antimicrobials is more common in CNS than in S. aureus, but CNS mastitis responds much better to antimicrobial treatment than S. aureus mastitis.     

Effects of Staphylococcus aureus mastitis on bovine mammary gland plasma cell populations and immunoglobin concentrations in milk

Bovine mammary tissue and milk samples were examined to determine effects of chronic Staphylococcus aureus mastitis on the humoral immune response. Parenchymal and teat end tissues from lactating bovine mammary glands were stained immunohistochemically to determine distribution of immunoglobulin (Ig) G1-, IgG2-, IgA-, and IgM-producing plasma cells. Numbers of all Ig-producing plasma cells tended to be higher in tissues from S. aureus infected quarters compared with controls, but most differences were not statistically different. Numbers of IgG1-producing plasma cells at the Furstenberg's rosette area of infected quarters were significantly (P less than 0.05) higher than uninfected quarters. There were no significant differences in concentrations of Ig isotypes in milk from S. aureus infected and uninfected quarters. Data suggest that the antigenic effect of chronic S. aureus infection on the humoral immune response of the bovine mammary gland is minimal. Persistency of S. aureus infection may result, in part, from suboptimal stimulation or immunosuppression of the mammary immune system.     

甘肃地区牛源金黄色葡萄球菌分子鉴定及RAPD分型

本研究目的是分离鉴定引起甘肃地区奶牛乳房炎的金黄色葡萄球菌,掌握其基因型情况。利用16S、23SrRNA保守序列PCR扩增对乳房炎奶样中的金黄色葡萄球菌进行鉴定,并进行RAPD基因分型。结果表明,310份奶样中共分离出金黄色葡萄球菌100株,RAPD结果显示这100株金黄色葡萄球菌均可得到清晰的RAPD指纹图谱,扩增产物在2～7条带之间,具有多种带型组成。通过聚类分析100株菌产生11个基因型,其中Ⅰ型4株,Ⅱ型4株,Ⅲ型10株,Ⅳ型13株,Ⅴ型7株,Ⅵ型24株,Ⅶ型16株,Ⅷ型6株,Ⅸ型4株,Ⅹ型10株,Ⅺ型2株。Ⅵ型为该地区的流行优势菌群,不同牛场各基因型菌株分布有明显差异。本研究说明牛场的环境与养殖条件对病原菌流行传播有明显的影响,这一结果对地区性奶牛乳房炎的防治提供了可靠的理论依据。     

Milk whey induction of agglutination in ovine and bovine mastitis Staphylococcus aureus

A total of 59 mastitis staphylococcic strains were tested for growth agglutination upon supplementation of growth media with ovine and bovine milk whey and mammary secretions from dry cows. Differences were observed when comparing bacterial species or origins (ovine vs. bovine) of bacteria and whey. All of the ovine and bovine S. aureus strains tested, but only 4 among 22 other ovine mastitis staphylococcic strains, showed growth agglutination in Todd Hewitt broth (THB) supplemented with greater than or equal to 30% (v/v) ovine milk whey. None of the strains agglutinated during growth in regular THB medium. Ovine whey had an agglutination induction capacity higher than bovine whey (P less than 0.005), concerning the number of responsive ovine and bovine S. aureus strains. There were no differences between whey samples from different ewes with regard to their capacity to induce agglutination. Ovine S. aureus strains were more responsive than bovine strains of this bacterial species, concerning the number of responsive strains (P less than 0.001) to bovine whey (greater than or equal to 30% in THB), the proportion of responsive strains at low (10%) ovine whey concentration (P less than 0.001), and the strength of reaction (precipitation timing and clump size). Secretions from dry cows systematically induced agglutination in all of the bovine and ovine S. aureus strains tested.     

Induction of anti-phagocytic surface properties of Staphylococcus aureus from bovine mastitis by growth in milk whey

The respiratory burst activity of bovine polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells in response to milk whey- and TSB-grown S. aureus strains isolated from bovine mastitis was studied in whole blood chemiluminescence (CL) and in a CL system with purified bovine neutrophils. In both cases milk whey-grown S. aureus strains elicited significantly less CL than homologous strains grown in TSB. Ingestion of milk whey-grown S. aureus strains by bovine neutrophils was also considerably lower than that of the corresponding homologous organisms grown in TSB. Binding of complement factor C3 to serum-opsonized milk whey-grown S. aureus strains was lower compared with TSB-grown homologous organisms. Moreover, 5 of 6 S. aureus strains grown in milk whey were significantly more resistant to in vivo clearance from the peritoneal cavity of mice compared with homologous bacteria grown in TSB. S. aureus strains grown in TSB exhibited hydrophobic surface properties, whereas homologous strains grown in milk whey were hydrophilic.     

Role of GapC in the pathogenesis of Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus is recognized worldwide as a major pathogen causing clinical or subclinical intramammary infections in lactating cows, sheep and goats. S. aureus produces a wide arsenal of cell surface and extracellular proteins involved in virulence. Among these are two conserved proteins with glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) activity named glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-B (GapB) and -C (GapC). In this study, we used the S. aureus wild type strain RN6390 and its isogenic gapC mutant H330 in in vitro and in vivo studies and determined that the S. aureus GapC protein plays a role on adherence to and internalization into bovine mammary epithelial (MAC-T) cells. In addition, we found that S. aureus H330 did not caused mastitis after an experimental infection of ovine mammary glands. Together, these results show that GapC is important in the pathogenesis of S. aureus mastitis.     

Effect of a milk-derived factor on the inflammatory response to Staphylococcus aureus intramammary infection.

Daily injections of an anti-inflammatory milk-derived factor (MDF) into mice increased resistance to Staphylococcus aureus challenge, and reduced leukocyte infiltration. Intraperitoneal injection of MDF into lactating mice prior to S. aureus intramammary challenge resulted in greater milk secretory activity and less inflammation compared with untreated controls, but had little effect on the number of S. aureus recovered from mammary tissue. Infusion of MDF directly into mouse mammary glands prior to challenge reduced S. aureus recovered after challenge. Incubation of bovine mammary macrophages in medium supplemented with MDF enhanced phagocytosis of opsonized S. aureus. In addition, infusion of 5 mg MDF into uninfected bovine mammary glands 24 h prior to S. aureus challenge resulted in fewer infections (five of ten) than in control quarters (seven of nine). Repeated daily injections of 5 mg MDF into S. aureus-infected quarters increased the percent of mammary neutrophils and decreased the recovery of S. aureus, but did not eliminate infections. Intravenous injection of 8 g MDF into cows resulted in pronounced leukopenia while the accompanying effect on mammary leukocytes was less marked but followed a similar course. Results suggest that the use of MDF in mice enhanced resistance to experimental infection and was beneficial in maintaining mammary secretory activity and reducing inflammation after bacterial challenge. In the cow, MDF promoted phagocytosis in vitro and was effective against challenge when infused intramammarily.     

Enhanced virulence of Staphylococcus aureus from bovine mastitis induced by growth in milk whey

The virulence towards mice of Staphylococcus aureus strains from bovine mastitis was enhanced upon growth in milk whey compared to homologous organisms grown in tryptic soy broth (TSB). In the mouse mastitis model, S. aureus grown in milk whey caused more severe lesions than homologous strains grown in TSB. Staphylococcus aureus strain F1440 grown in milk whey induced 75% mortality and local necrotic reaction in subcutaneously inoculated mice, whereas the homologous strain grown in TSB caused only 5% mortality and slight skin reaction. Extracellular capsule on milk whey-grown, S. aureus could not be demonstrated. However, diffuse type colony morphology could be correlated with an increased virulence of S. aureus towards mice.     

Serologic analysis of isolates of Pasteurella haemolytica and Staphylococcus aureus from mastitic ewes

Milk samples (10 ml) were collected aseptically from infected and healthy mammary glands of 20 range ewes in the early stages of unilateral acute mastitis. The ewes were on 5 different ranches in the Northern Rocky Mountain region of the United States. The samples were plated on tryptose blood agar and examined for bacteria of possible etiologic significance. Twelve of the 20 ewes were infected with Pasteurella haemolytica, 4 ewes with Staphylococcus aureus, and 1 ewe with both bacteria. Twelve of the P haemolytica infections were in pure culture as were 4 S aureus infections. The 13 isolates of P haemolytica represented 6 different serotypes. Isolates of P haemolytica from ewes on the same ranch were as serologically diverse as were isolates from ewes in different herds. The 5 isolates of S aureus were similar antigenically. Bacterial isolates were not obtained from the milk of clinically healthy mammae.     

Staphylococcus aureus vaccine against mastitis in dairy cows,composition and evaluation of its immunogenicity in a mouse model

Bovine mastitis caused by Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a most important infection disease that affects both the quality and the quantity of milk production. Antibiotic therapies formulated for intramammary use are generally unsuccessful in eliminating existing S. aureus infections. Vaccination is a logical approach to the control of S. aureus udder infections. However, to date commercially available S. aureus vaccine have shown limited efficacy under field conditions, mainly due to the paucity of information regarding relevant antigens which will induce a broad spectrum immunization. In the present paper the attempt to develop a new vaccine designated MASTIVAC I is described. MASTIVAC I is composed of three strains of S. aureus namely: VLVL8407; ZO3984 and BS449 which were isolated from clinical and sub-clinical cases of bovine mastitis. A mouse model was used to evaluate the S. aureus specific antibody production and protection of mice against virulent S. aureus strains. The results obtained showed that this vaccine exhibits a broad spectrum of antigenic and immunogenic properties that protects mice from homologues and hetrologous S. aureus challenge.     

Staphylococcus aureus lipoteichoic acid triggers inflammation in the lactating bovine mammary gland

The response of the bovine mammary gland to lipoteichoic acid (LTA), which is a major pathogen-associated molecular pattern of Gram-positive bacteria, was investigated by infusing purified Staphylococcus aureus LTA in the lumen of the gland. LTA was able to induce clinical mastitis at the dose of 100 microg/quarter, and a subclinical inflammatory response at 10 microg/quarter. The induced inflammation was characterized by a prompt and massive influx of neutrophils in milk. LTA proved to induce strongly the secretion of the chemokines CXCL1, CXCL2, CXCL3 and CXCL8, which target mainly neutrophils. The complement-derived chemoattractant C5a was generated in milk only with the highest dose of LTA (100 microg). The pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1beta was induced in milk, but there was very little if any TNF-alpha and no IFN-gamma. The re-assessment of CXCL8 concentrations in milk whey of quarters previously challenged with S. aureus, by using an ELISA designed for bovine CXCL8, showed that this chemokine was induced in milk, contradicting previous reports. Overall, S. aureus LTA elicited mammary inflammatory responses that shared several attributes with S. aureus mastitis. Purified LTA looks promising as a convenient tool to investigate the inflammatory and immune responses of the mammary gland to S. aureus.     

Genotypic characterization by polymerase chain reaction of Staphylococcus aureus isolates associated with bovine mastitis

Staphylococcus aureus is recognized worldwide as a pathogen causing many serious diseases in humans and animals, and is the most common aetiological agent of clinical and subclinical bovine mastitis. The importance of evaluating the combination of S. aureus virulence factors has been emphasized both in human and veterinary medicine, and knowledge about the genetic variability within different S. aureus populations would help in the design of efficient treatments. The aim of the present study was to determine the genetic profiles of S. aureus strains isolated from milk of cows suffering from clinical and subclinical mastitis in Belgium. The presence of about forty virulence-associated genes was investigated by specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. A high number of genotypic subtypes were observed, demonstrating further the large variation in the presence of virulence genes in S. aureus isolates and the considerable diversity of strains populations that are able to cause mastitis in cows. In accordance with other studies, we showed that some genes are associated with mastitis-causing S. aureus isolates, whereas others are absent or rarely present. We also further highlighted the presence of conserved gene combinations, namely the enterotoxigenic egc-cluster and the bovine pathogenicity island SaPIbov. Importantly, the presence of isolates carrying genes coding for toxins involved in important human infections makes the milk of cows with mastitis a potential reservoir for these toxins, and therefore a potential danger in human health, which strengthens the importance to consider raw milk consumption and its processing very carefully.     

Staphylococcus aureus seroproteomes discriminate ruminant isolates causing mild or severe mastitis

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of mastitis in ruminants. In ewe mastitis, symptoms range from subclinical to gangrenous mastitis. S. aureus factors or host-factors contributing to the different outcomes are not completely elucidated. In this study, experimental mastitis was induced on primiparous ewes using two S. aureus strains, isolated from gangrenous (strain O11) or subclinical (strain O46) mastitis. Strains induced drastically distinct clinical symptoms when tested in ewe and mice experimental mastitis. Notably, they reproduced mild (O46) or severe (O11) mastitis in ewes. Ewe sera were used to identify staphylococcal immunoreactive proteins commonly or differentially produced during infections of variable severity and to define core and accessory seroproteomes. Such SERological Proteome Analysis (SERPA) allowed the identification of 89 immunoreactive proteins, of which only 52 (58.4%) were previously identified as immunogenic proteins in other staphylococcal infections. Among the 89 proteins identified, 74 appear to constitute the core seroproteome. Among the 15 remaining proteins defining the accessory seroproteome, 12 were specific for strain O11, 3 were specific for O46. Distribution of one protein specific for each mastitis severity was investigated in ten other strains isolated from subclinical or clinical mastitis. We report here for the first time the identification of staphylococcal immunogenic proteins common or specific to S. aureus strains responsible for mild or severe mastitis. These findings open avenues in S. aureus mastitis studies as some of these proteins, expressed in vivo, are likely to account for the success of S. aureus as a pathogen of the ruminant mammary gland.     

Rapid identification of bovine mastitis pathogens by high-resolution melt analysis of 16S rDNA sequences

Accurate identification of mastitis pathogens is often compromised when using conventional culture-based methods. Here, we report a novel, rapid assay tested for speciation of bacterial mastitis pathogens using high-resolution melt analysis (HRMA) of 16S rDNA sequences. Real-time PCR amplification of 16S rRNA gene fragment, spanning the variable region V5 and V6 was performed with a resulting amplicon of 290bp. First, a library was generated of melt curves of 9 common pathogens that are implicated in bovine mastitis. Six of the isolates, Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus uberis, Staphylococcus aureus and Mycoplasma bovis, were type strains while the other 3, Arcanobacterium pyogenes, Corynebacterium bovis and Streptococcus dysgalactiae, were bovine mastitis field isolates. Four of the type strains, E. coli, S. agalactiae, K. pneumoniae and S. aureus, were found to be of human origin, while the other 3 type strains were isolated from bovine infections. Secondly, the melt curves and corresponding amplicon sequences of A. pyogenes, E. coli, S. agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae, K. pneumoniae, S. uberis and S. aureus were compared with 10 bovine mastitis field isolates of each pathogen. Based on the distinct differences in melt curves and sequences between human and bovine isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae, it was deemed necessary to select a set of bovine strains for these pathogens to be used as reference strains in the HRMA. Next, the HRMA was validated by three interpreters analyzing the differential clustering pattern of melt curves of 60 bacterial cultures obtained from mastitis milk samples. The three test interpreters were blinded to the culture and sequencing results of the isolates. Overall accuracy of the validation assay was 95% as there was difficulty in identifying the streptococci due to heterogeneity observed in the PCR amplicons of S. uberis. The present study revealed that broad-range real-time PCR with HRMA can be used as a powerful, fast and low-cost tool for the differentiation of clinically important bacterial mastitis pathogens.     

Genotyping of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from various sites on farms with dairy sheep using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

We investigated the genetic diversity of 179 Staphylococcus aureus isolates recovered from various sites in 10 farms producing cheeses manufactured with raw ewe's milk. Isolates were collected from handcrafted cheeses, bulk tank milk, milk from half-udders, skin abscesses on the udder if present, hands and anterior nares of farmers, and air of the milking area. The isolates were typed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of DNA SmaI digests and compared to other isolates of S. aureus isolated in different hosts or in different locations. The results showed that nine farms were contaminated by S. aureus isolates with identical banding patterns (named OV) or by genetically related isolates (named OV'). These dominant banding patterns were found in a variable proportion of the samples from each farm (range: 11-100%). Most of the strains isolated from nasal carriage or strains isolated from other regions or from other animal species had different PFGE patterns to OV or OV', except for three strains. These results show that a single clone of S. aureus is widely distributed both in infected mammary glands and in cheese produced from raw milk. This study confirms that infected mammary glands are the main source of the contamination of dairy products in sheep.     

贵州地区牛源金黄色葡萄球菌分离株16S rRNA分子鉴定及RAPD分型研究

利用16S rRNA保守序列对引起贵州地区奶牛乳房炎的金黄色葡萄球菌进行分离鉴定,建立随机多态性扩增体系对金黄色葡萄球菌分离株进行基因分型研究。结果表明,69份奶样中共分离出金黄色葡萄球菌37株,DNA随机多态性扩增（random amplified polymorphic DNA,RAPD）结果显示这37株金黄色葡萄球菌扩增产物在1～7条带之间,产物大小为400～4500 bp。菌株可分为7个基因型,其中Ⅰ型7株（18.9%）、Ⅱ型2株（5.4%）、Ⅲ型2株（5.4%）、Ⅳ型1株（2.7%）、Ⅴ型19株（51.4%）、Ⅵ型1株（2.7%）、Ⅶ型5株（13.5%）,Ⅴ型为该地区的流行优势菌群。地理和气候环境对病原菌流行传播的影响是病原菌基因型分布差异的重要原因。     

Prevalence of coagulase gene polymorphism in Staphylococcus aureus isolates causing bovine mastitis.

This study was conducted to investigate polymorphism of the coagulase gene of Staphylococcus aureus causing bovine mastitis. One hundred eighty-seven strains of S. aureus were isolated from bovine mastitic milk samples obtained from 187 different Danish dairy farms. The isolates were characterised for restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the coagulase gene. A variable region of the coagulase gene was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by AluI restriction enzyme digestion. A total of 15 different RFLP patterns were observed. The predominant pattern was found in 35% of the isolates. The ease of analysing coagulase gene polymorphisms among a large number of strains, and the multiple distinct polymorphic patterns generated, supports the use of this technique in epidemiological investigations of bovine mastitis. The predominating variants may have predelection for causing intramammary infections.     

Helenalin reduces Staphylococcus aureus infection in vitro and in vivo

Staphylococcus (S.) aureus is a major udder pathogen causing bovine mastitis. Some pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), enhance extracellular and intracellular growth of S. aureus, indicating that the inflammatory process favors S. aureus infection. Helenalin is a sesquiterpene lactone with potent anti-inflammatory properties. This study was designed to evaluate the effects of helenalin on S. aureus infection. First, in vitro experiments were conducted. These studies revealed that proliferation of S. aureus in bovine mammary epithelial MAC-T cells treated in the presence or absence of TNF-alpha was markedly reduced in the presence of helenalin. Secondly, in vivo effects of helenalin were investigated. Lactating mice treated in the presence or absence of helenalin were challenged by the intramammary route with S. aureus and the bacteria in the mammary glands were counted 12 h after infection. Significantly less numbers of bacteria were recovered from the infected glands of helenalin-treated mice compared with untreated mice. Moreover, histological examination of mammary tissue from helenalin-treated mice that were challenged with S. aureus indicated that helenalin is able to significantly reduce leukocyte infiltration in the mammary gland following S. aureus inoculation. Our results show that helenalin reduces S. aureus intracellular growth and experimental S. aureus infection. We conclude that helenalin may be of potential interest in the treatment of S. aureus-induced mastitis in the bovine species.     

Isolation and Identification of Pathogenic Bacteria Causing Bovine Subclinical Mastitis in Eastern Hebei Province

In this study, the milk samples of 1 021 cows in eight dairy farms in Eastern Hebei Province were collected and detected with LMT reagent and somatic cell count for subclinical mastitis. Pathogenic bacteria in subclinical mastitis positive milk samples were isolated and identified.The results showed that 60.63%(619/1 021) of the sampled cows were diagnosed with subclinical mastitis, and mixed infections accounted for 88.21%(546/619) of the cases. In addition, 82 strains of 14 species were isolated from the subclinical mastitis positive milk samples, including 36 strains of Staphylococcus(43.90%), 33 strains of Streptococcus(40.24%), 8 strains of Enterobacteriaceae(9.76%) and 5 strains of Corynebacterium(6.10%), respectively. The results proved that Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae are the main pathogenic bacteria causing bovine subclinical mastitis in Eastern Hebei Province.     

Reinfection of bovine mammary glands following dry-cow antibiotic therapy

Dry-cow antibiotic therapy (DCT) was administered to quarters with Staphylococcus aureus or streptococcal infections and the quarters were closely monitored for the presence of new or reactivated mammary infections throughout the dry period and the following lactation. Strains of S. aureus were characterized using a selection of biotyping tests to allow a comparison of S. aureus strains isolated before and after DCT. Cows with 3-4 quarters infected prior to DCT had a high susceptibility to reinfection in the following year. In contrast, for cows with 1-2 quarters infected prior to DCT and for heifers with no previous history of infection, the susceptibility to reinfection or new infection was very low. The majority of the S. aureus infections appearing in the lactation following DCT were due to S. aureus strains which differed from strains isolated prior to DCT, suggesting that these were new infections. Histopathological examination of quarters which had had recurrent S. aureus infections revealed lesions typical of chronic S. aureus mastitis, including extensive lobular fibrosis and atrophy.