A total of 127 strains of Staphylococcus aureus were examined for the production of toxic shock syndrome toxin (TSST-1) and staphylococcal enterotoxins (SE) A, B, C and D. The strains were isolated from milk samples from cows with mastitis in dairy herds of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, from 1994 to 1997. The toxins were detected using the optimum-sensitivity plate method. Of 127 isolates, 60 (47%) produced TSST-1 and 54 (43%) produced SE, 38 (30%) produced SED, 24 (19%) SEB, 8 (6%) SEC and 4 (3%) enterotoxin A..
Staphylococcus aureus; TSST-1; enterotoxins; bovine mastitis
