acriflavine and Mastitis--Bovine

To investigate the use of mannitol salt agar (MSA) supplemented with acriflavine for selective growth and quantification of Staphylococcus aureus from flushed dairy manure wastewater (FDMW).. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of acriflavine in MSA were determined by comparing the growth of S. aureus subsp. aureus (ATCC 33591) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 155) in pure culture. Acriflavine concentrations of 1.3, 1.4 and 1.5 mg l(-1) reduced CFU of S. epidermidis by 43%, 55% and 87%, respectively, while CFU of S. aureus subsp. aureus were only reduced by 15%, 20% and 26% at the respective concentrations of acriflavine. MSA supplemented with 1.5 mg l(-1) acriflavine was tested for selective growth of indigenous S. aureus from three grab samples of FDMW. Acriflavine concentrations of 1.5 mg l(-1) reduced background flora without significantly reducing (P < 0.05) indigenous S. aureus counts.. Acriflavine-supplemented MSA provides an effective media for selective growth and quantification of indigenous S. aureus from FDMW in the presence of high levels of background microflora.. S. aureus is implicated for mastitis infections in dairy cows. Therefore, a reliable means for monitoring and detecting the organism in FDMW provides a tool for measuring the effectiveness of treatment for reducing S. aureus levels and implementing flushwater recycling without affecting herd health.

Topics: Acriflavine; Agar; Animals; Bacteriological Techniques; Cattle; Culture Media; Dairying; Fresh Water; Mannitol; Manure; Mastitis, Bovine; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Waste Disposal, Fluid

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, beta-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.

Topics: Acriflavine; Agar; Animals; beta-Galactosidase; Cattle; Coagulase; Culture Media; Female; Hemolysis; Mastitis, Bovine; Milk; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus; Staphylococcus aureus

Coliform organisms were isolated from bedding, udders of cows exhibiting acute or chronic mastitis, and milk of cows tested for udder pathogens. The bactericidal activity of standard bovine serum was tested on 362 isolates, of which 2.4% were killed at a serum dilution of less than 1:5; 2.7% were killed at a dilution of 1.5; 3.0% were killed at a dilution of 1:12.5; and 4.4% were sensitive to a dilution of 1:25. Organisms isolated from mastitic udders were not killed by serum. Sensitivity to agglutination in 1:500 solution of acriflavine was tested on 157 isolates, and only 54 had any degree of agglutination. Of these 54, only 4 organisms had any susceptibility to killing by serum. Results suggest that most organisms in the environment of the cow are resistant to serum, few serum-sensitive coliforms cause mastitis, and agglutination in acriflavine (indicating organisms in the rough phase) does not correlate with sensitibity to serum.

Topics: Acriflavine; Agglutination; Animals; Blood Bactericidal Activity; Cattle; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli Infections; Female; Mammary Glands, Animal; Mastitis, Bovine