ABSTRACT
A total of 135 crossbred cows was studied, from ten dairy herds on the state of Acre. The purpose was to identify species of Staphylococcus isolated from the mammary quarters of cows with mastitis. Additionally, the capacity of biofilm production by the species Staphylococcus chromogenes was evaluated. The sample characterization of the isolates was performed using the MALDI TOF MS (Matrix Associated Laser Desorption-Ionization - Time of Flight - Mass Spectrometry). The following species were identified by MALDI TOFF MS: S. chromogenes (36), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (5), S. chromogenes or Staphylococcus hycus (5), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (4), Staphylococcus epidermidis (3), Staphylococcus hycus (3), Staphylococcus aureus (1), Staphylococcus auriculares (1), Staphylococcus kloosii (1) and Staphylococcus xylosus (1). S. chromogenes corresponded to 60% of the Staphylococcus isolates (17 isolates positive on tube coagulase test). From those, 83.33% (30/36) of them were biofilm producers. This virulence factor had no association with the plasma coagulation phenotype. The identification of these microorganisms is important for the elucidation of the bovine mastitis etiology. The high percentage of S. chromogenes, biofilm producers, isolated from cows with mastitis is an important finding. This may reveal a profile change on the colonization of etiologic agents that cause this disease.
Keywords:
Staphylococcus sp.; MALDI TOF MS; virulence; bovine mastitis
