Some Microbiological Aspects of Staphylococcal Mastitis

(1) Mannitol fermentation is a reasonably reliable method for the detection of coagulase positive staphylococci in milk. This reliability can be improved if mannitol fermentation is carried out under anaerobic conditions.

(2) Among hemolytic strains of staphylococci isolated from milk, beta hemolytic staphylococci predominate. Bovine and sheep blood agar plates give similar hemolytic patterns, but the hemolysis is more pronounced on sheep blood agar.

(3) Gelatin liquefaction cannot be relied upon for the selection of coagulase positive staphylococci in milk.

(4) Urease production is a feature of the majority of coagulase positive staphylococci isolated from milk.

(5) Tellurite Glycine agar medium is not satisfactory for the selection of coagulase positive staphylococci in milk.