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Frequency of enterotoxins, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, and biofilm formation genes in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from cows with mastitis in the Northeast of Brazil

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Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus is among the microorganisms more frequently associated with subclinical bovine mastitis. S. aureus may produce several virulence factors. This study aimed at determining the frequency of virulence factors such as enterotoxins, toxic shock syndrome toxin 1, and ica adhesion genes. In addition, we assessed antimicrobial drug resistance in S. aureus isolated from clinical and subclinical cases of mastitis. A total of 88 cows with clinical or subclinical mastitis were sampled, resulting in 38 S. aureus isolates, from which 25 (65.78%) carried toxin genes, including seb, sec, sed, tst, and icaD adhesion gene. These S. aureus isolates belong to 21 ribotypes and three S. aureus strains belonged to the same ribotype producing ica adhesion gene. Approximately 90% of S. aureus strains obtained in our study demonstrated multiple resistance to different antimicrobial agents. The most efficacious antimicrobial agents against the isolates were gentamicin, amoxicillin, and norfloxacin. Gentamicin was the most efficacious agent inhibiting 78.95% of the S. aureus isolates. The least efficacious were penicillin, streptomycin, and ampicillin. Our results can help in understanding the relationship between virulence factors and subclinical mastitis caused by S. aureus. Further research about diversity of S. aureus isolates and genes responsible for the pathogenicity of subclinical mastitis is essential.

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Funding

This study was supported by CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brazil), FAPEMIG (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brazil), FAPEMA (Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa e ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico do Estado do Maranhão, Brazil), CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brazil), and UEMA (Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, Brazil). FNC had a scholarship from CAPES (PROCAD-NF Program). RLS has a fellowship from CNPq. IAC has a fellowship from UEMA.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pathology Department, Universidade Estadual do Maranhão, Cidade Universitária Paulo VI s/n – Tirirical Caixa Postal 09, São Luís, MA, 65055-970, Brazil

    F. N. Costa, L. S. Pereira & I. A. Carvalho

  2. Veterinary School, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    F. N. Costa, N. O. Belo, E. A. Costa, G. I. Andrade & R. L. Santos

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  1. F. N. Costa
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  2. N. O. Belo
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  3. E. A. Costa
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  4. G. I. Andrade
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  5. L. S. Pereira
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  6. I. A. Carvalho
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  7. R. L. Santos
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Correspondence to F. N. Costa.

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The manuscript does not contain clinical studies or patient data.

This experimental protocol has been approved by the Ethics Committee on Animal Use of the Universidade Estadual do Maranhão (CEEA-UEMA, Protocol 039/2011).

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Costa, F.N., Belo, N.O., Costa, E.A. et al. Frequency of enterotoxins, toxic shock syndrome toxin-1, and biofilm formation genes in Staphylococcus aureus isolates from cows with mastitis in the Northeast of Brazil. Trop Anim Health Prod 50, 1089–1097 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-018-1534-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-018-1534-6

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