Streptococcus spp. and related bacteria: their identification and their pathogenic potential for chronic mastitis - a molecular approach

When the solution becomes the problem: a review on antimicrobial resistance in dairy cattle

Antibiotics' action, once a 'magic bullet', is now hindered by widespread microbial resistance, creating a global antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. A primary driver of AMR is the selective pressure from antimicrobial use. Between 2000 and 2015, antibiotic consumption increased by 65%, reaching 34.8 billion tons, 73% of which was used in animals. In the dairy cattle sector, antibiotics are crucial for treating diseases like mastitis, posing risks to humans, animals and potentially leading to environmental contamination. To address AMR, strategies like selective dry cow therapy, alternative treatments (nanoparticles, phages) and waste management innovations are emerging. However, most solutions are in development, emphasizing the urgent need for further research to tackle AMR in dairy farms.

An integrated approach to explore the microbial biodiversity of natural milk cultures for cheesemaking

The use of natural milk culture (NMC) represents a key factor in Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) Montasio cheese, contributing to its distinctive sensory profile. The complex microbial ecosystem of NMC is the result of heat treatment and incubation conditions, which can vary considerably among different production plants. In this study, the microbiota of NMC collected from 10 PDO Montasio cheese dairies was investigated by employing colony counts and metagenomic analysis. Furthermore, residual sugars, organic acids, and volatile profiles were quantitatively investigated. Results showed that Streptococcus thermophilus was the dominant species in all NMC, and a subdominant population made of other streptococci and Ligilactobacillus salivarius was also present. The incubation temperature appeared to be the main driver of biodiversity in NMC. Metagenomics allowed us to evidence the presence of minor species involving safety (e.g., Staphylococcus aureus) as well as possible functional aspects (Next Generation Probiotics). Statistical analysis based on residual sugars, organic acids, and volatiles' content allowed to correlate the presence of specific microbial groups with metabolites of great technological and sensory relevance, which can contribute to giving value to the artisanal production procedures of NMC and clarify their role in the creation of the characteristics of PDO Montasio cheese.

Milk as diagnostic fluid for udder health management

BACKGROUND

Mastitis is the major disease affecting milk production of dairy cattle, and milk is an obvious substrate for the detection of both the inflammation and its causative infectious agents at quarter, cow, or herd levels. In this review, we examine the use of milk to detect inflammation based on somatic cell count (SCC) and other biomarkers, and for the detection of mastitis pathogens through culture-based and culture-free methods.

FINDINGS

The use of SCC at a cow or bulk milk level to guide udder health management in lactation is well-established, and SCC is increasingly used to guide selective dry cow treatment. Other markers of inflammation include electrical conductivity, which is used commercially, and markers of disease severity such as acute phase proteins but are not pathogen-specific. Some pathogen-specific markers based on humoral immune responses are available, but their value in udder health management is largely untested. Commercial pathogen detection is based on culture or polymerase chain reaction, with other tests, for example, loop-mediated isothermal amplification or 16S microbiome analysis still at the research or development stage. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time of flight (MALDI-ToF) is increasingly used for the identification of cultured organisms whilst application directly to milk needs further development. Details of test sensitivity, specificity, and use of the various technologies may differ between quarter, cow, and bulk milk applications.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a growing array of diagnostic assays that can be used to detect markers of inflammation or infection in milk. The value of some of these methods in on-farm udder health improvement programs is yet to be demonstrated whilst methods with proven value may be underutilised.

Elucidation of the Bovine Intramammary Bacteriome and Resistome from healthy cows of Swiss dairy farms in the Canton Tessin

Healthy, untreated cows of nine dairy herds from the Swiss Canton Tessin were analyzed three times within one year to identify the most abundant species of the intramammary bacteriome. Aseptically collected milk samples were cultured and bacteria identified using MALDI-TOF. Of 256 cows analyzed, 96% were bacteriologically positive and 80% of the 1,024 quarters were positive for at least one bacterial species. 84.5% of the quarters were healthy with somatic cell counts (SCC) < 200,000 cells/mL, whereas 15.5% of the quarters showed a subclinical mastitis (SCC ≥ 200,000 cells/mL). We could assign 1,288 isolates to 104 different bacterial species including 23 predominant species. Non-aureus staphylococci and mammaliicocci (NASM) were most prevalent (14 different species; 73.5% quarters). Staphylococcus xylosus and Mammaliicoccus sciuri accounted for 74.7% of all NASM isolates. To describe the intramammary resistome, 350 isolates of the predominant species were selected and subjected to short-read whole genome sequencing (WGS) and phenotypic antibiotic resistance profiling. While complete genomes of eight type strains were available, the remaining 15 were de novo assembled with long reads as a resource for the community. The 23 complete genomes served for reference-based assembly of the Illumina WGS data. Both chromosomes and mobile genetic elements were examined for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) using in-house and online software tools. ARGs were then correlated with phenotypic antibiotic resistance data from minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Phenotypic and genomic antimicrobial resistance was isolate-specific. Resistance to clindamycin and oxacillin was most frequently observed (65 and 30%) in Staphylococcus xylosus but could not be linked to chromosomal or plasmid-borne ARGs. However, in several cases, the observed antimicrobial resistance could be explained by the presence of mobile genetic elements like tetK carried on small plasmids. This represents a possible mechanism of transfer between non-pathogenic bacteria and pathogens of the mammary gland within and between herds. The-to our knowledge-most extensive bacteriome reported and the first attempt to link it with the resistome promise to profoundly affect veterinary bacteriology in the future and are highly relevant in a One Health context, in particular for mastitis, the treatment of which still heavily relies on antibiotics.

Effects of captive and primate-focused tourism on the gut microbiome of Tibetan macaques

Documenting the effects of anthropogenic activities on the gut microbiome of wild animals is important to their conservation practices. Captivity and ecotourism are generally considered two common anthropogenic disturbances on the health of nonhuman primates. Here, we examined the divergences of gut microbiome in different environments of Tibetan macaques. Our results showed that there were no significant differences in the alpha diversity, predominant families and genera of gut microbiomes between wild and tourist groups. However, these indexes decreased significantly in the captive individuals. In addition, the significant differences of beta diversity and community compositions between wild and tourism groups also were detected. In particular, higher potential pathogenic and predicted KEGG pathway of drug resistance (antimicrobial) were detected in the gut microbiome of individuals in captive environment. Our results indicated that living in the wild are beneficial to maintaining gut microbial diversity of Tibetan macaques, while captivity environment is harmful to the health of this macaque. Exploring ways to restore the native gut microbiome and its diversity of captive individual should pay more attention to in the future studies.

Genetic variability of the helix 54 of the 23S rDNA and its use as a molecular target for identification of species within the viridans group streptococci (VGS)

The aim of the present study is to establish a method, based on sequence analysis of the helix 54 of 23S rRNA gene, to identify clinical relevant strains belonging to viridans group streptococci (VGS). A set of 25 randomly selected clinical isolates of alpha-hemolytic streptococci from upper respiratory tract were characterized by the routine phenotypic methods (API 20 Strep test). Molecular characterization was assessed by genotypic analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the helix 54 of 23S rRNA and Intergenic spacer region 16S23S. Partial sequencing of the gdh gene was used on 10 strains of mitis group. Sequence variations of the helix 54 allowed the identification of strains to group level and even to species level for certain strains within sanguinis and anginosus groups. Infact, species identification was ambiguous for some strains belonged to the salivarius group (of VGS16 to VGS20) and the mitis group (of VGS1 to VGS14). These results are almost similar to those obtained by sequencing the 16S23S intergenic region. Thus, we use the gdh gene sequencing for the identification of strains, not recognized, within the mitis group. The results generated herein indicate that no single methodology can be used to provide an accurate identification to the species level of all VGS, although nucleotide sequence analysis of the helix 54 of 23S rRNA gene proved to be a reliable method for the identification of VGS to the group level and even to the species level within sanguinis and anginosus groups.

Antimicrobial resistance of commensal Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium from food-producing animals in Russia

Background and Aim

Although Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are common members of human and animal gut microbiota, their resistance to different antimicrobials makes them important pathogens. Multidrug-resistant enterococci often contaminate foods of animal origin at slaughterhouses. The World Health Organization and the World Organization for Animal Health recommend including animal-derived enterococci in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) monitoring programs. This study aimed to fill a literature gap by determining the current AMR prevalence of E. faecalis and E. faecium from different food-producing animals in Russia.

Materials and Methods

Samples of biomaterial were taken from chickens (n=187), cattle (n=155), pigs (n=49), turkeys (n=34), sheep (n=31), and ducks (n=31) raised at 28 farms in 15 regions of Russia. Isolates of E. faecalis (n=277) and of E. faecium (n=210) (487 isolates in total; 1 isolate per sample) were tested for resistance to 12 antimicrobials from 11 classes using the broth microdilution method. Three criteria were used for the interpretation of minimum inhibitory concentration: Epidemiological cutoff values (ECOFFs) from the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) clinical breakpoints. The AMR cloud online platform was used for data processing and statistical analysis.

Results

A difference of >10% was found between E. faecalis and E. faecium resistance to several antimicrobials (erythromycin, gentamycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and streptomycin). In total, resistance to most antimicrobials for enterococci isolates of both species taken from turkeys, chicken, and pigs was higher than cattle, sheep, and ducks. The highest levels were found for turkeys and the lowest for ducks. Among antimicrobials, resistance to bacitracin and virginiamycin was 88-100% in nearly all cases. High levels of clinical resistance were found for both bacteria species: Rifampicin (44-84%) from all animals, tetracycline (45-100%) from poultry and pigs, and erythromycin (60-100%), ciprofloxacin (23-100%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (33-53%) from chickens, turkeys, and pigs. No vancomycin-resistant isolates were found. Most isolates were simultaneously resistant to one-three classes of antimicrobials, and they were rarely resistant to more than three antimicrobials or sensitive to all classes.

Conclusion

Differences in resistance between enterococci from different farm animals indicate that antimicrobial application is among the crucial factors determining the level of resistance. Conversely, resistance to rifampicin, erythromycin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin found in enterococci from farm animals in our study was notably also found in enterococci from wild animals and birds. Our results may be partly explained by the intrinsic resistance of E. faecium and E. faecalis to some antimicrobials, such as trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and bacitracin.

Evaluation of 4 predictive algorithms for intramammary infection status in late-lactation cows

The objective of this observational study was to compare 4 cow-level algorithms to predict cow-level intramammary infection (IMI) status (culture and MALDI-TOF) in late-lactation US dairy cows using standard measures of test performance. Secondary objectives were to estimate the likely effect of each algorithm, if used to guide selective dry cow therapy (SDCT), on dry cow antibiotic use in US dairy herds, and to investigate the importance of including clinical mastitis criteria in algorithm-guided SDCT. Cows (n = 1,594) from 56 US dairy herds were recruited as part of a previously published cross-sectional study of bedding management and IMI in late-lactation cows. Each herd was visited twice for sampling. At each farm visit, aseptic quarter-milk samples were collected from 20 cows approaching dry-off (>180 d pregnant), which were cultured using standard bacteriological methods and MALDI-TOF for identification of isolates. Quarter-level culture results were used to establish cow-level IMI status, which was considered the reference test in this study. Clinical mastitis records and Dairy Herd Improvement Association test-day somatic cell count data were extracted from herd records and used to perform cow-level risk assessments (low vs. high risk) using 4 algorithms that have been proposed for SDCT in New Zealand, the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and the United States. Agreement between aerobic culture (reference test; IMI vs. no-IMI) and algorithm status (high vs. low risk) was described using Cohen's kappa, test sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value. The proportion of cows classified as high risk among the 4 algorithms ranged from 0.31 to 0.63, indicating that these approaches to SDCT could reduce antibiotic use at dry-off by 37 to 69% in the average US herd. All algorithms had poor agreement with IMI status, with kappa values ranging from 0.05 to 0.13. Sensitivity varied by pathogen, with higher values observed when detecting IMI caused by Streptococcus uberis, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Lactococcus lactis. Negative predictive values were high for major pathogens among all algorithms (≥0.87), which may explain why algorithm-guided SDCT programs have been successfully implemented in field trials, despite poor agreement with overall IMI status. Removal of clinical mastitis criteria for each algorithm had little effect on the algorithm classification of cows, indicating that algorithms based on SCC alone may have similar performance to those based on SCC and clinical mastitis criteria. We recommend that producers implementing algorithm-guided SDCT use algorithm criteria that matches their relative aspirations for reducing antibiotic use (high specificity, positive predictive value) or minimizing untreated IMI at dry-off (high sensitivity, negative predictive value).

Postcalving udder health and productivity in cows approaching dry-off with intramammary infections caused by non-aureus Staphylococcus, Aerococcus, Enterococcus, Lactococcus, and Streptococcus species

The objective of this prospective cohort study was to explore associations between intramammary infection (IMI) in late-lactation cows and postcalving udder health and productivity. Cows (n = 2,763) from 74 US dairy herds were recruited as part of a previously published cross-sectional study of bedding management and IMI in late-lactation cows. Each herd was visited twice for sampling. At each visit, aseptic quarter milk samples were collected from 20 cows approaching dry-off (>180 d pregnant), which were cultured using standard bacteriological methods and MALDI-TOF for identification of isolates. Quarter-level culture results were used to establish cow-level IMI status at enrollment. Cows were followed from enrollment until 120 d in milk (DIM) in the subsequent lactation. Herd records were used to establish whether subjects experienced clinical mastitis or removal from the herd, and DHIA test-day data were used to record subclinical mastitis events (somatic cell count >200,000 cells/mL) and milk yield (kg/d) during the follow-up period. Cox regression and generalized estimating equations were used to evaluate the associations between IMI and the outcome of interest. The presence of late-lactation IMI caused by major pathogens was positively associated with postcalving clinical mastitis [hazard ratio = 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2, 2.0] and subclinical mastitis (risk ratio = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.3, 1.9). Species within the non-aureus Staphylococcus (NAS) group varied in their associations with postcalving udder health, with some species being associated with increases in clinical and subclinical mastitis in the subsequent lactation. Late-lactation IMI caused by Streptococcus and Streptococcus (Strep)-like organisms, other than Aerococcus spp. (i.e., Enterococcus, Lactococcus, and Streptococcus spp.) were associated with increases in postcalving clinical and subclinical mastitis. Test-day milk yield from 1 to 120 DIM was lower (-0.9 kg, 95% CI: -1.6, -0.3) in late-lactation cows with any IMI compared with cows without IMI. No associations were detected between IMI in late lactation and risk for postcalving removal from the herd within the first 120 DIM. Effect estimates reported in this study may be less than the underlying quarter-level effect size for IMI at dry-off and postcalving clinical and subclinical mastitis, because of the use of late-lactation IMI as a proxy for IMI at dry-off and the use of cow-level exposure and outcome measurements. Furthermore, the large number of models run in this study (n = 94) increases the chance of identifying chance associations. Therefore, confirmatory studies should be conducted. We conclude that IMI in late lactation may increase risk of clinical and subclinical mastitis in the subsequent lactation. The relationship between IMI and postcalving health and productivity is likely to vary among pathogens, with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., Enterococcus spp., and Lactococcus spp. being the most important pathogens identified in the current study.

Discrimination of major and minor streptococci incriminated in bovine mastitis by MALDI-TOF MS fingerprinting and 16S rRNA gene sequencing

The current work investigated the discriminatory potential of MALDI-TOF MS fingerprinting towards most-relevant major (Streptococcus agalactiae, S. dysgalactiae, S. uberis) and minor (S. canis, S. parauberis, S. salivarius, S. equinus and S. gallolyticus) streptococci involved in bovine mastitis (BM), in comparison to 16S rRNA gene sequencing (GS)-based identification. The MALDI-TOF MS-generated spectral fingerprints were recruited for eliciting a detailed proteomic map that demonstrated clear variability for inter- and intra-species-specific biomarkers. Besides, a phyloproteomic dendrogram was evolved and comparatively analyzed against the phylogenetic one obtained from 16S rRNA GS in order to assess the differentiation of streptococci of bovine origin based on variability of protein fingerprints versus the variation of 16S rRNA gene homology. Results showed that the discrimination of BM-implicated streptococci can be obtained by both approaches; however MALDI-TOF MS was superior, achieving more variability at both intra- and sub-species levels. MALDI-TOF MS spectral analytics revealed that Streptococcus spp. exhibited three genus-specific biomarkers (peaks with m/z values at 2112, 4452 and 5955) and all streptococci exhibited spectral variability at both species and subspecies levels. Remarkably, MALDI-TOF MS fingerprinting was found to be at least as robust as 16S rRNA GS-based identification, allowing much cheaper and faster analysis, and additionally exhibiting high reliability for characterization of BM-implicated streptococci, thus proving to be a powerful tool that can be used independently within dairy diagnostics.

Characterization of Staphylococci and Streptococci Isolated from Milk of Bovides with Mastitis in Egypt

The aim of this study was to characterize staphylococci and streptococci in milk from Egyptian bovides. In total, 50 milk samples were collected from localities in the Nile Delta region of Egypt. Isolates were cultivated, identified using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by the broth microdilution method. PCR amplifications were carried out, targeting resistance-associated genes. Thirty-eight Staphylococcus isolates and six Streptococcus isolates could be cultivated. Staphylococcus aureus isolates revealed a high resistance rate to penicillin, ampicillin, clindamycin, and erythromycin. The mecA gene defining methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, erm(C) and aac-aphD genes was found in 87.5% of each. Coagulase-negative staphylococci showed a high prevalence of mecA, blaZ and tetK genes. Other resistance-associated genes were found. All Streptococcus dysgalactiae isolates carried blaZ, erm(A), erm(B), erm(C) and lnuA genes, while Streptococcus suis harbored erm(C), aphA-3, tetL and tetM genes, additionally. In Streptococcus gallolyticus, most of these genes were found. The Streptococcus agalactiae isolate harbored blaZ, erm(B), erm(C), lnuA, tetK, tetL and tetM genes. Streptococcus agalactiae isolate was analyzed by DNA microarray analysis. It was determined as sequence type 14, belonging to clonal complex 19 and represented capsule type VI. Pilus and cell wall protein genes, pavA, cadD and emrB/qacA genes were identified by microarray analysis.

Subclinical mastitis in pastoralist dairy camel herds in Isiolo, Kenya: Prevalence, risk factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility

Mastitis is an important constraint to milk production in pastoralist camel (Camelus dromedarius) herds in Kenya. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and bacterial panorama of subclinical mastitis (SCM) in pastoralist camel herds in Isiolo County, Kenya. Furthermore, antimicrobial susceptibility in udder pathogens was studied. A cross-sectional sample of 206 camels from 20 milking herds was screened using the California Mastitis Test (CMT), and quarter milk was subjected to bacterial culturing. Isolates were confirmed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry analysis, and antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the broth microdilution method. Interviews focusing on herd management were conducted with camel owners. Subclinical mastitis, defined as a CMT score ≥ 3 (scale 1 to 5) and absence of clinical symptoms in the udder, were present in all visited herds. On the individual level, 46% of the camels had at least 1 quarter affected with SCM, and on the quarter level the prevalence was 26%. Intramammary infections (IMI) were common; out of 798 quarter milk samples, 33% yielded conclusive bacterial growth. The sensitivity and specificity of CMT for correctly identifying quarters with IMI were 82% and 92%, respectively. The most prevalent pathogen was Streptococcus agalactiae (72% of IMI-positive quarters), followed by non-aureus staphylococci (19%) and Staphylococcus aureus (13%). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that only a low proportion (4.9%) of Strep. agalactiae isolates was sensitive to tetracycline. For Staph. aureus, 59.1% of isolates exhibited sensitivity to penicillin. Skin lesions on the teats or udder were a risk factor for SCM. Increased age, parity, and stage of lactation were associated with increased risk of both SCM and IMI. Older camels with a blind teat or a previous history of mastitis were more likely to be infected with Strep. agalactiae. Hygiene routines for milking were largely absent in the observed herds, and knowledge of adequate milk handling was limited. The poor udder health is likely to depend on multiple factors, most prominently the within-herd maintenance of contagious udder pathogens, in combination with difficult sanitary conditions and lack of awareness among camel keepers. This study showed that in pastoralist camel herds around Isiolo town, SCM and IMI specifically caused by Strep. agalactiae are common udder health problems and are associated with increasing age, parity, and stage of lactation, and skin lesions on the teats and udder. Resistance to tetracycline in Strep. agalactiae was common. Control strategies specifically targeting SCM and adapted to pastorally managed camel herds need to be developed to reduce disease, combat antimicrobial resistance, and improve the livelihoods of pastoralists.

Prevalence and antimicrobial-resistance phenotypes and genotypes of Escherichia coli isolated from raw milk samples from mastitis cases in four regions of China

OBJECTIVES

The objective was to find the differences in the prevalence and resistance of Escherischia coli isolated from raw milk samples from mastitis cases in four regions of China.

METHODS

A total of 750 bovine raw milk samples from mastitis cases were collected from four regions of China over two seasons. Antimicrobial resistance against 29 antimicrobial agents was determined, and 27 drug-resistant genes were tested.

RESULTS

Eighty-three strains (11.1%) of E. coli were isolated and identified. No significant differences in the number of E. coli isolates were observed between the two sampling seasons in the same regions (P>0.05). However, a significant difference in E. coli prevalence was found among the four different regions (P<0.01). The isolates were most frequently resistant to penicillin (100%), acetylspiramycin (100%), lincomycin (98.8%), oxacillin (98.8%) and sulphamethoxazole (53%). All the E. coli strains were multiresistant to at least three antimicrobial classes, and the most frequent multidrug-resistance patterns for the isolates were resistant to three (36.1%) or four (39.8%) classes of drugs simultaneously. The blaTEM gene (n=69; 83.1%) was the most frequently detected resistance gene. The most frequent gene combinations were a four-gene pattern of blaCTX-M-sulII-blaTEM-sulI (n=13; 15.7%) and a three-gene pattern of blaCTX-M-aph (3)-II-blaTEM (n=11; 13.3%).

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated that there is a high incidence of E. coli with a great variation in resistance patterns and resistance genes; this is a matter of great concern for public and animal health in China.

Distribution of Lactococcus spp. in New York State dairy farms and the association of somatic cell count resolution and bacteriological cure in clinical mastitis samples

We investigated the distribution of pathogenic non-agalactiae gram-positive, catalase-negative cocci (GPCN) in a convenience sample of New York State dairy farms. Our primary objective with the clinical mastitis (CM) GPCN samples was to evaluate somatic cell count (SCC) resolution and bacteriological cure of Streptococcus dysgalactiae or Streptococcus uberis versus Lactococcus lactis or Lactococcus garvieae in cows that received an approved intramammary treatment. In phase I, we assessed the distribution of the GPCN and SCC resolution. In phase II, we evaluated the SCC resolution and bacteriological cure in CM samples from the 4 farms with the highest prevalence of L. lactis or L. garvieae in phase I. In phase I, 8,868 CM and subclinical mastitis (SCM) milk samples were received from 143 farms. The GPCN samples identified by culture were confirmed with MALDI-TOF. From the 473 MALDI-TOF-confirmed GPCN samples, 155 were S. dysgalactiae (33%); 150, S. uberis (32%); 112, L. lactis (24%); 16, L. garvieae (3%); and 40, other GPCN (8%). From these, 277 were CM samples and 127 were eligible for the evaluation of SCC resolution, which was defined as SCC ≤200,000 cells/mL in a composite sample 15 to 60 d post-diagnosis. The odds of SCC resolution in CM samples was evaluated with multivariable logistic regression, and the odds were 6.1 [95% confidence interval (CI):2.7-13.9] times higher for S. dysgalactiae or S. uberis compared with L. lactis or L. garvieae. In phase II, a total of 1,662 CM and SCM samples were evaluated with microbiological methods as in phase I, of which 211 samples were confirmed by MALDI-TOF: 39% were S. dysgalactiae (n = 61) and S. uberis (n = 21); 55%, L. lactis (n = 114) and L. garvieae (n = 2); and 6%, other GPCN (n = 13). In total, 168 CM samples were eligible for analysis and 118 were included in the final SCC resolution model. Similar statistical methods as in phase I were performed, and the odds of SCC resolution were 2.4 (95% CI: 1.1-5.5) times higher for S. dysgalactiae or S. uberis compared with L. lactis or L. garvieae. Bacteriological cure was defined as having a different or negative culture on a quarter sample taken 14 to 28 d after initial diagnosis. The odds of bacteriological cure (n = 121) were 8.0 (95% CI: 2.5-25.6) times higher for S. dysgalactiae or S. uberis compared with L. lactis or L. garvieae. Differences in SCC resolution and bacteriological cure between these groups may dictate a different management approach.

Cross-sectional study of the relationships among bedding materials, bedding bacteria counts, and intramammary infection in late-lactation dairy cows

Objectives of this study were to (1) describe the intramammary infection (IMI) prevalence and pathogen profiles in quarters of cows approaching dry-off in US dairy herds, (2) compare IMI prevalence in quarters of cows exposed to different bedding material types, and (3) identify associations between bedding bacteria count and IMI in cows approaching dry-off. Eighty herds using 1 of 4 common bedding materials (manure solids, organic non-manure, new sand, and recycled sand) were recruited in a multi-site cross-sectional study. Each herd was visited twice for sampling. At each visit, aseptic quarter-milk samples were collected from 20 cows approaching dry-off (>180 d pregnant). Samples of unused and used bedding were also collected. Aerobic culture was used to determine the IMI status of 10,448 quarters and to enumerate counts (log₁₀ cfu/mL) of all bacteria, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. and Streptococcus-like organisms (SSLO), coliforms, Klebsiella spp., noncoliform gram-negatives, Bacillus spp., and Prototheca spp. in unused (n = 148) and used (n = 150) bedding. The association between bedding bacteria count and IMI was determined using multivariable logistic regression with mixed effects. Quarter-level prevalence of IMI was 21.1%, which was primarily caused by non-aureus Staphylococcus spp. (11.4%) and SSLO (5.6%). Only modest differences in IMI prevalence were observed between the 4 common bedding material types. Counts of all bacteria in unused bedding was positively associated with odds of IMI caused by any pathogen [ALL-IMI; odds ratio (OR) = 1.08]. A positive association was also observed for counts of SSLO in unused bedding and SSLO-IMI (OR = 1.09). These patterns of association were generally consistent across the 4 common bedding materials. In contrast, the association between counts of all bacteria in used bedding and ALL-IMI varied by bedding type, with positive associations observed in quarters exposed to manure solids (OR = 2.29) and organic non-manure (OR = 1.51) and a negative association in quarters exposed to new sand (OR = 0.47). Findings from this study suggest that quarter-level IMI prevalence in late-lactation cows is low in US dairy herds. Furthermore, bedding material type may not be an important risk factor for IMI in late lactation. Higher levels of bacteria in bedding may increase IMI prevalence at dry-off in general, but this relationship is likely to vary according to bedding material type.

Methicillin resistance genes and in vitro biofilm formation among Staphylococcus aureus isolates from bovine mastitis in India

INTRODUCTION

Biofilms, an assemblage of microbial cells irreversibly associated with a surface and enclosed in a matrix of polysaccharide material pose serious health challenges, resulting in high economic losses. The emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections and ability to form biofilms in dairy animals is of emerging concern for livestock and public health owing to their association with serious infections. The present study was undertaken to examine the presence of methicillin resistance genes among the biofilm forming Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from cases of acute and subacute bovine mastitis. A total of 150 mastitic milk samples referred to Veterinary Clinical Complex, Shuhama (Aulesteng) SKUAST-K were screened in present study. The methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates were also screened for in vitro biofilm forming ability.

RESULTS

A total of 80 (53.33%) S. aureus isolates were recovered from cases of bovine mastitis of which 20 (25%) were methicillin (mecA) gene positive. Of the 20 mecA positive isolates, 20% were positive for SCCmec I, 35% for SCCmec IV and 45% for SCCmec V subtypes. In vitro antibiotic sensitivity testing of MRSA revealed complete resistance towards methicillin and other pencillin group of antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

A significant correlation was observed between in vitro biofilm formation and presence of methicillin resistance gene in S aureus isolates recovered from acute and subacute mastitis. The Staphylococcus aureus isolates positive for methicillin resistance gene (mecA) were either strong or moderate biofilm formers.

Identification of a conserved linear B-cell epitope in the Staphylococcus aureus GapC protein

The GapC protein of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a surface protein that is highly conserved among Staphylococcus strains, and it can induce protective humoral immune responses. However, B-cell epitopes in S. aureus GapC have not been reported. In this study, we generated a monoclonal antibody (mAb2A9) targeting S. aureus GapC. Through a passive immunity test, mAb2A9 was shown to partially protect mice against S. aureus infection. We screened the motif ²³⁶PVATGSLTE²⁴³ that is recognized by mAb2A9 using a phage-display system. The motif sequence exactly matched amino acids 236-243 of the S. aureus GapC protein. Then, we identified the key amino acids in the motif using site-directed mutagenesis. Site-directed mutagenesis revealed that residues P236, G240, L242, and T243 formed the core of the ²³⁶PVATGSLT²⁴³ motif. In addition, this epitope was proven to be located on the surface of S. aureus, and it induced a protective humoral immune response against S. aureus infection in immunized mice. Overall, our results characterized a conserved B-cell epitope, which will be an attractive target for designing effective epitope-based vaccines against S. aureus infection.

Considerações sobre o tratamento das mastites

RESUMO: A mastite é considerada o maior problema dos animais destinados à produção de leite. Altera a sua composição e aumenta a contagem de células somáticas (CCS). Os micro-organismos envolvidos na doença podem ser origem infecciosa, como Staphylococcus aureus, ou ambiental, tal como Escherichia coli. A cultura bacteriana é uma ferramenta de diagnóstico e auxilia na detecção do patógeno causador da mastite. No entanto, fatores como fagocitose podem desencadear um resultado negativo. Quando estabelecido um programa de controle de mastite, o diagnóstico precoce e o início do tratamento adequado dos casos clínicos são fundamentais para se atingir os objetivos e seu sucesso, está relacionado com o patógeno envolvido. A indicação do tratamento de longa duração, ou terapia estendida, tem melhorado a resposta ao tratamento em casos de mastite por S. aureus, no entanto, com 30-50% de cura. Do ponto de vista do manejo dos animais, devido a alta contagiosidade deste patógeno, sua persistência no rebanho e custo em função ao tratamento, muitas vezes, o descarte do animal tem sido priorizado a fim de controlar os casos de mastite em propriedades. As medidas de controle são muito importantes para contribuir com a redução de casos de mastite por este patógeno. A indicação do tratamento intramamário associada com sistêmico tem poder efetivo em casos de mastite por E. coli, cujos casos agudos apresentam-se com sepse e toxemia. São abordados ainda aspectos de tratamentos alternativos das mastites, utilizados principalmente no processo orgânico de produção leiteira.

Development of a new real-time quantitative PCR assay for the detection of Staphylococcus aureus genotype B in cow milk, targeting the new gene adlb

The specific and reliable diagnosis of mastitis pathogens is essential for successful sanitation programs. The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate a new real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay for the very sensitive and specific detection of Staphylococcus aureus genotype B in cow milk samples. This mastitis pathogen is contagious and particularly prevalent in Switzerland and other central European countries. The new test is based on a rapid preparation of bacteria, followed by DNA isolation and qPCR for a unique target gene coding for the adhesion-like bovine protein (adlb). The inclusivity of the new target gene was 97% and the exclusivity 98%, meaning that other genotypes and bacterial species could be excluded with high reliability. The limit of detection of the new assay was 235 staphylococcal cell equivalents/mL of culture. The new test shows high intra- and interassay repeatability. Results are available within 2 d after sampling, allowing farmers and veterinarians to apply sanitation measures immediately. Based on the results of a preliminary field study, the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the new qPCR assay are 99 and 100%, respectively. The new analytical procedure is straightforward and can be applied for routine diagnostics.

Whole-Genome Sequence Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Streptococcus uberis and Streptococcus dysgalactiae Isolates from Canadian Dairy Herds

The objectives of this study are to determine the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes using whole-genome sequence (WGS) of Streptococcus uberis (S. uberis) and Streptococcus dysgalactiae (S. dysgalactiae) isolates, recovered from dairy cows in the Canadian Maritime Provinces. A secondary objective included the exploration of the association between phenotypic AMR and the genomic characteristics (genome size, guanine–cytosine content, and occurrence of unique gene sequences). Initially, 91 isolates were sequenced, and of these isolates, 89 were assembled. Furthermore, 16 isolates were excluded due to larger than expected genomic sizes (>2.3 bp × 1,000 bp). In the final analysis, 73 were used with complete WGS and minimum inhibitory concentration records, which were part of the previous phenotypic AMR study, representing 18 dairy herds from the Maritime region of Canada (1). A total of 23 unique AMR gene sequences were found in the bacterial genomes, with a mean number of 8.1 (minimum: 5; maximum: 13) per genome. Overall, there were 10 AMR genes [ANT(6), TEM-127, TEM-163, TEM-89, TEM-95, Linb, Lnub, Ermb, Ermc, and TetS] present only in S. uberis genomes and 2 genes unique (EF-TU and TEM-71) to the S. dysgalactiae genomes; 11 AMR genes [APH(3′), TEM-1, TEM-136, TEM-157, TEM-47, TetM, bl2b, gyrA, parE, phoP, and rpoB] were found in both bacterial species. Two-way tabulations showed association between the phenotypic susceptibility to lincosamides and the presence of linB (P = 0.002) and lnuB (P < 0.001) genes and the between the presence of tetM (P = 0.015) and tetS (P = 0.064) genes and phenotypic resistance to tetracyclines only for the S. uberis isolates. The logistic model showed that the odds of resistance (to any of the phenotypically tested antimicrobials) was 4.35 times higher when there were >11 AMR genes present in the genome, compared with <7 AMR genes (P < 0.001). The odds of resistance was lower for S. dysgalactiae than S. uberis (P = 0.031). When the within-herd somatic cell count was >250,000 cells/mL, a trend toward higher odds of resistance compared with the baseline category of <150,000 cells/mL was observed. When the isolate corresponded to a post-mastitis sample, there were lower odds of resistance when compared with non-clinical isolates (P = 0.01). The results of this study showed the strength of associations between phenotypic AMR resistance of both mastitis pathogens and their genotypic resistome and other epidemiological characteristics.

Phenotypic Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Isolates Causing Clinical Mastitis in Dairy Animals

Mastitis is the most frequent and costly disease of lactating animals and is associated with a significant reduction in milk yield, increased cost and culling. Early and specific antibiotic based treatment reduces the severity of the disease. Over the years the extensive use of antimicrobials has led to increase antimicrobial resistance. The present study was designed to investigate the prevalence of microorganisms responsible for mastitis and their antimicrobial resistance pattern. A total of 282 milk samples were collected from different animal species (sheep, cows and goats) with clinical mastitis. Antimicrobial resistance was evaluated for Streptococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. In cow samples Streptococcus spp. represented the most frequently isolated genus (33.84%), while Staphylococcus spp. was the most prevalent genus in sheep and goat samples (44.4 and 73.86%, respectively). Gentamicin and chloramphenicol were found to be the most effective drugs against the tested isolates, while the highest resistance rates were observed for amoxicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Molecular Characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus Causing Bovine Mastitis between 2014 and 2015

Staphylococcus aureus is highly pathogenic and can cause diseases in both humans and domestic animals. In animal species, including ruminants, S. aureus may cause severe or sub-clinical mastitis. This study aimed to investigate the molecular profile, antimicrobial resistance, and genotype/phenotype correlation of 212 S. aureus isolates recovered from cases of bovine mastitis from 2014 to 2015 in the Shanghai and Zhejiang areas of China. Nineteen sequence types (STs) were determined by multi-locus sequence typing, while the dominant ST was ST97, followed by ST520, ST188, ST398, ST7, and ST9. Within 14 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates and 198 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) isolates, ST97 was the predominant MSSA clone and ST9-MRSA-SCCmecXII-spa t899 was the most common MRSA clone. The MRSA strains showed much higher rates of resistance to multiple antibiotics than did MSSA strains. Compared with other MSSA strains, MSSA ST398 was more resistant to clindamycin, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin. No isolates were resistant to vancomycin, teicoplanin, or linezolid. The molecular profiles of the virulence genes varied in different strains. ST520 strains carried seg-sei-sem-sen-seo genes, and ST9 and ST97 harbored sdrD-sdrE genes. Virulence phenotype analysis showed diversity in different clones. Biofilm formation ability was significantly enhanced in ST188 and ST7, and red blood cell lysis capacity was relatively strong in all S. aureus strains of animal origin except ST7. Our results indicate that MSSA was the predominant S. aureus strain causing bovine mastitis in eastern regions of China. However, the presence of multidrug resistant and toxigenic MRSA clone ST9 suggests that comprehensive surveillance of S. aureus infection should be implemented in the management of animal husbandry products.

In Vitro Assessment of the Probiotic Potential of Lactococcus lactis LMG 7930 against Ruminant Mastitis-Causing Pathogens

Mastitis in dairy ruminants is considered to be the most expensive disease to farmers worldwide. Recently, the intramammary infusion of lactic acid bacteria has emerged as a potential new alternative to antibiotics for preventing and treating bovine mastitis. In this study we have investigated in vitro the probiotic potential of Lactococcus lactis LMG 7930, a food-grade and nisin-producing strain, against mastitis-causing pathogens. We have characterized its carbohydrate fermentation and antibiotic susceptibility profiles, cell surface properties and antimicrobial activity, as well as its capabilities to adhere to and inhibit the invasion of pathogens into the bovine mammary epithelial cell line BME-UV1d. We found that L. lactis LMG 7930 was sensitive to tested drugs, according to the EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP), and showed an improved carbohydrate fermentation capacity compared to starter strains. Moreover, the strain exhibited antagonistic properties towards many of the pathogens tested. It presented medium surface hydrophobicity, a low basic property and no electron acceptor capability. It showed low auto-aggregation and no co-aggregation abilities towards any of the tested pathogens. The strain was one of the most adhesive to bovine mammary epithelial cells among tested bacteria, but its internalisation was low. The strain did not affect significantly pathogen invasion; however, a trend to decrease internalization of some pathogens tested was observed. In conclusion, our results suggest that this strain might be a promising candidate for the development of new strategies of mastitis control in ruminants. Future investigations are needed to evaluate its safety and efficacy under field conditions.

Persistence of a dominant bovine lineage of group B Streptococcus reveals genomic signatures of host adaptation

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a host-generalist species, most notably causing disease in humans and cattle. However, the differential adaptation of GBS to its two main hosts, and the risk of animal to human infection remain poorly understood. Despite improvements in control measures across Europe, GBS is still one of the main causative agents of bovine mastitis in Portugal. Here, by whole-genome analysis of 150 bovine GBS isolates we discovered that a single CC61 clone is spreading throughout Portuguese herds since at least the early 1990s, having virtually replaced the previous GBS population. Mutations within an iron/manganese transporter were independently acquired by all of the CC61 isolates, underlining a key adaptive strategy to persist in the bovine host. Lateral transfer of bacteriocin production and antibiotic resistance genes also underscored the contribution of the microbial ecology and genetic pool within the bovine udder environment to the success of this clone. Compared to strains of human origin, GBS evolves twice as fast in bovines and undergoes recurrent pseudogenizations of human-adapted traits. Our work provides new insights into the potentially irreversible adaptation of GBS to the bovine environment.

The Lactococcus genus as a potential emerging mastitis pathogen group: A report on an outbreak investigation

The bacterium Lactococcus lactis is widely used in food production and in medical applications, and is considered safe for human and animal use. However, studies have also linked Lactococcus bacteria to infection. For example, certain variants of Lactococcus species have been associated with bovine mastitis (e.g., Lactococcus lactis and Lactococcus garvieae). In this study, we investigated an outbreak of bovine mastitis thought to be associated with Lactococcus bacteria by using microbiological and molecular techniques. We used bacterial isolation, next-generation sequencing, DNA fingerprinting, and other methods to test our hypothesis that Lactococcus microbes were the primary pathogen causing the mastitis outbreak. Twenty-eight Lactococcus isolates were obtained from mastitic milk of 28 dairy cows. The isolates were identified as L. lactis (27 isolates) and L. garvieae (1 isolate). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rDNA gene sequence comparison indicated similarity among the L. lactis isolates as well as between the isolates and reference sequences. The DNA fingerprinting analysis based on random amplified polymorphic DNA results of the 27 L. lactis isolates identified different random amplified polymorphic DNA profiles, which suggests they originated from multiple sources. Microbiome analysis determined Lactococcus to be the dominant genus in the majority of the mastitic milk samples, whereas it was found in low relative abundance in healthy milk samples. The Lactococcus genus was detected in all environmental samples tested, and sampling of bulk tank milk corroborated that Lactococcus was not abundant in healthy milk from the same dairy herd. In summary, our findings suggest that Lactococcus bacteria are a potential etiological agent in the mastitis outbreak studied. Further studies should be conducted to understand the importance of Lactococcus, especially L. lactis, as pathogenic microbes in veterinary medicine and food safety.

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Environmental Streptococci Recovered from Bovine Milk Samples in the Maritime Provinces of Canada

Determination of antimicrobial susceptibility of bovine mastitis pathogens is important for guiding antimicrobial treatment decisions and for the detection of emerging resistance. Environmental streptococci are ubiquitous in the farm environment and are a frequent cause of mastitis in dairy cows. The aim of the study was to determine patterns of antimicrobial susceptibility among species of environmental streptococci isolated from dairy cows in the Maritime Provinces of Canada. The collection consisted of 192 isolates identified in milk samples collected from 177 cows originating from 18 dairy herds. Results were aggregated into: (1) Streptococcus uberis (n = 70), (2) Streptococcus dysgalactiae (n = 28), (3) other Streptococci spp. (n = 35), (4), Lactococcus spp. (n = 32), and (5) Enterococcus spp. (n = 27). Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined using the Sensititre microdilution system and mastitis plate format. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to analyze the data, with antimicrobial susceptibility as the outcome. The proportion of susceptible S. uberis ranged from 23% (for penicillin) to 99% (for penicillin/novobiocin), with a median of 82%. All S. dysgalactiae were susceptible to all antimicrobials except for penicillin (93% susceptible) and tetracycline (18% susceptible). The range of susceptibility for other Streptococcus spp. was 43% (for tetracycline) to 100%, with a median percent susceptibility of 92%. Lactococcus spp. isolates displayed percent susceptibilities ranging from 0% (for penicillin) to 97% (for erythromycin), median 75%. For the antimicrobials tested, the minimum inhibitory concentrations were higher for Enterococcus spp. than for the other species. According to the multilevel models, there was a significant interaction between antimicrobial and bacterial species, indicating that susceptibility against a particular antimicrobial varied among the species of environmental streptococci and vice versa. Generally, susceptibility decreased with increasing within-herd average somatic cell count, isolates recovered in mid-lactation were more susceptible than isolates recovered in early lactation, and isolates recovered in samples collected post-clinical mastitis were more susceptible than isolates recovered from non-clinical lactating quarters. The results of this research support continued susceptibility of environmental streptococci to beta-lactam antimicrobials. A departure from the expected susceptibility to beta-lactams was the apparent reduced susceptibility of S. uberis to penicillin.

Whole-Genome Comparison Uncovers Genomic Mutations between Group B Streptococci Sampled from Infected Newborns and Their Mothers

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus or GBS), a commensal of the human gut and genitourinary tract, is a leading cause of neonatal infections, in which vertical transmission from mother to child remains the most frequent route of contamination. Here, we investigated whether the progression of GBS from carriage to disease is associated with genomic adaptation. Whole-genome comparison of 47 GBS samples from 19 mother-child pairs uncovered 21 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and seven insertions/deletions. Of the SNPs detected, 16 appear to have been fixed in the population sampled whereas five mutations were found to be polymorphic. In the infant strains, 14 mutations were detected, including two independently fixed variants affecting the covRS locus, which is known to encode a major regulatory system of virulence. A one-nucleotide insertion was also identified in the promoter region of the highly immunogenic surface protein Rib gene. Gene expression analysis after incubation in human blood showed that these mutations influenced the expression of virulence-associated genes. Additional identification of three mutated strains in the mothers' milk raised the possibility of the newborns also being a source of contamination for their mothers. Overall, our work showed that GBS strains in carriage and disease scenarios might undergo adaptive changes following colonization. The types and locations of the mutations found, together with the experimental results showing their phenotypic impact, suggest that those in a context of infection were positively selected during the transition of GBS from commensal to pathogen, contributing to an increased capacity to cause disease.

IMPORTANCE

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a major pathogen responsible for neonatal infections. Considering that its colonization of healthy adults is mostly asymptomatic, the mechanisms behind its switch from a commensal to an invasive state are largely unknown. In this work, we compared the genomic profile of GBS samples causing infections in newborns with that of the GBS colonizing their mothers. Multiple mutations were detected, namely, within key virulence factors, including the response regulator CovR and surface protein Rib, potentially affecting the pathogenesis of GBS. Their overall impact was supported by differences in the expression of virulence-associated genes in human blood. Our results suggest that during GBS's progression to disease, particular variants are positively selected, contributing to the ability of this bacterium to infect its host.

Antimicrobial susceptibilities and random amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR fingerprint characterization of Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis and Lactococcus garvieae isolated from bovine intramammary infections

In total, 181 streptococci-like bacteria isolated from intramammary infections (IMI) were submitted by a veterinary clinic to Quality Milk Production Services (QMPS, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY). The isolates were characterized by sequence analysis, and 46 Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis and 47 Lactococcus garvieae were tested for susceptibility to 17 antibiotics. No resistant strains were found for β-lactam antibiotics widely used in clinical practice (penicillin, ampicillin, and amoxicillin), and all minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were far from the resistance breakpoints. Eight strains had MIC intermediate to cefazolin. The random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR fingerprint patterns showed a slightly higher heterogeneity for Lc. lactis ssp. lactis isolates than for Lc. garvieae isolates.

The neutrophil function and lymphocyte profile of milk from bovine mammary glands infected with Streptococcus dysgalactiae

Streptococcus dysgalactiae is a bacterium that accounts for a notable proportion of both clinical and subclinical intramammary infections (IMIs). Thus, the present study explores the function of milk neutrophils and the lymphocyte profile in mammary glands naturally infected with Streptococcus dysgalactiae. Here, we used 32 culture-negative control quarters from eight clinically healthy dairy cows with low somatic cell counts and 13 S. dysgalactiae-infected quarters from six dairy cows. Using flow cytometry, we evaluated the percentage of milk monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils, expression of CD62L, CD11b and CD44 by milk neutrophils, the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by milk neutrophils, and neutrophil viability. Furthermore, the percentages of B cell (CD21(+)) and T lymphocyte subsets (CD3(+)/CD4(+)/CD8(-); CD3(+)/CD8(+)/CD4(-); and CD3(+)/CD8(-)/CD4(-)), and the expression of CD25 by T milk lymphocytes (CD3(+)) and T CD4(+) milk cells were also assessed by flow cytometry using monoclonal antibodies. The present study showed a higher SCC and percentage of milk neutrophils, and a decrease in the percentage of milk monocytes/macrophages from S. dysgalactiae-infected quarters when compared to uninfected ones. We also observed a higher expression of CD11b by milk neutrophils and a tendency toward a decrease in neutrophil apoptosis rate in S. dysgalactiae-infected quarters. In addition, the S. dysgalactiae-infected quarters had higher percentages of milk T cells (CD3(+)) and their subset CD3(+)CD8(+)CD4(-) cells. Overall, the present study provided new insights into S. dysgalactiae IMIs, including distinct lymphocyte profiles, and a tendency toward an inhibition of apoptosis in milk neutrophils.

The Plasmid Complement of the Cheese Isolate Lactococcus garvieae IPLA 31405 Revealed Adaptation to the Dairy Environment

Lactococcus garvieae is a lactic acid bacterium found in raw-milk dairy products as well as a range of aquatic and terrestrial environments. The plasmids in L. garvieae have received little attention compared to those of dairy Lactococcus lactis, in which the genes carried by these extrachromosomal elements are considered of adaptive value. The present work reports the sequencing and analysis of the plasmid complement of L. garvieae IPLA 31405, a strain isolated from a traditional, Spanish, starter-free cheese made from raw-milk. It consists of pLG9 and pLG42, of 9,124 and 42,240 nucleotides, respectively. Based on sequence and structural homology in the putative origin of replication (ori) region, pLG9 and pLG42 are predicted to replicate via a theta mechanism. Real-time, quantitative PCR showed the number of copies per chromosome equivalent of pLG9 and pLG42 to be around two and five, respectively. Sequence analysis identified eight complete open reading frames (orfs) in pLG9 and 36 in pLG42; these were organized into functional modules or cassettes containing different numbers of genes. These modules were flanked by complete or interrupted insertion sequence (IS)-like elements. Among the modules of pLG42 was a gene cluster encoding specific components of a phosphoenolpyruvate-phosphotransferase (PEP-PTS) system, including a phospho-β-galacosidase. The cluster showed a complete nucleotide identity respect to that in plasmids of L. lactis. Loss of pLG42 showed this to be involved in lactose assimilation. In the same plasmid, an operon encoding a type I restriction/modification (R/M) system was also identified. The specificity of this R/M system might be broadened by different R/M specificity subunits detected in pLG9 and in the bacterial chromosome. However, challenges of L. garvieae IPLA 31405 against L. lactis phages proved that the R/M system was not involved in phage resistance. Together, these results support the hypothesis that, as in L. lactis, pLG42 contribute towards the adaptation of L. garvieae to the dairy environment.

Bovine mastitis Staphylococcus aureus: antibiotic susceptibility profile, resistance genes and molecular typing of methicillin-resistant and methicillin-sensitive strains in China

The emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in dairy animals is of great concern for livestock and public health. The aim of present study was to detect new trends of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) towards antibiotic susceptibility, resistance genes and molecular typing by methods of disc diffusion, multiplex PCR assay and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). A total of 219 S. aureus strains were isolated from bovine mastitis cases from six provinces of China, including 34 MRSA strains. The results revealed that more than 70% isolated strains showed resistance to various antibiotics, and multiple-drugs resistance to more than five categories of antibiotics was found more common. The ermC was the most prevalent resistance gene, followed by other genes; however, ermA was the least frequently detected gene. Twenty-eight mecA-negative MRSA and six mecA-positive MRSA strains were detected, and in which three strains were ST97-MRSA-IV, others were ST965-MRSA-IV, ST6-MRSA-IV and ST9-MRSA-SCCmec-NT. The mecA-negative MRSA strains were found resistant to most of the antibiotics, and harbored aac(6')/aph(2''), aph(3')-III and tetM genes higher than MSSA strains. The resistance to most of the antibiotics was significantly higher in MRSA than in MSSA strains. The MLST profiles showed that these strains mainly belonged to CC5, CC398, CC121 and CC50 lineage, especially within ST97 and ST398, while some novel sequence types (ST2154, ST2165 and ST2166) were identified and deposited in the MLST database. This indicates that the resistance of S. aureus is becoming more complicated by changes in multi-drug resistance mechanism and appearance of mecA-negative MRSA isolates, and importantly, MRSA-IV strains in different MLST types are emerging.

Novel physico-chemical diagnostic tools for high throughput identification of bovine mastitis associated gram-positive, catalase-negative cocci

Background

The routine diagnosis of Streptococcus spp. and other mastitis associated gram-positive, catalase-negative cocci is still based upon biochemical tests and serological methods, which frequently provide ambiguous identification results. We therefore aimed to establish an accurate identification system for differential diagnosis of mastitis associated Streptococcus spp. and related species using biophysical techniques such as Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and MALDI – TOF/MS.

Results

Based on a panel of 210 isolates from cases of bovine mastitis, an unsupervised FTIR spectral reference library was established and an artificial neural network (ANN) - assisted identification system was developed. All bacterial isolates were previously identified by species-specific PCR and/or 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. An overall identification rate of 100% at species level for 173 strains unknown to the ANN and the library was achieved by combining ANN and the spectral database, thus demonstrating the suitability of our FTIR identification system for routine diagnosis. In addition, we investigated the potential of matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) for the identification of mastitis associated Streptococcus spp. and related bacteria. Using the Microflex LT System, MALDI Biotyper software™ (V3.3) we achieved an accuracy rate of 95.2%. A blind study, including 21 clinical samples from dairy cows, revealed a 100% correct species identification rate for FTIR and 90.5% for MALDI-TOF MS, indicating that these techniques are valuable tools for diagnosis.

Conclusions

This study clearly demonstrates that FTIR spectroscopy as well as MALDI-TOF MS can significantly improve and facilitate the identification and differentiation of mastitis associated Streptococcus spp. and related species. Although the FTIR identification system turned out being slightly superior to MALDI-TOF MS in terms of identification on species level, both methods offer interesting alternatives to conventional methods currently used in mastitis diagnosis as both of them provide high accuracy at low operating costs once the instrument is acquired.

Phenotypic and genotypic identification of streptococci and related bacteria isolated from bovine intramammary infections

Background

Streptococcus spp. and other Gram-positive, catalase-negative cocci (PNC) form a large group of microorganisms which can be found in the milk of cows with intramammary infection. The most frequently observed PNC mastitis pathogens (major pathogens) are Streptococcus uberis, Strep. dysgalactiae, and Strep. agalactiae. The remaining PNC include a few minor pathogens and a large nonpathogenic group. Improved methods are needed for the accurate identification and differentiation of PNC.

A total of 151 PNC were collected from cows with intramammary infection and conclusively identified by 16S rRNA sequencing as reference method. Nine phenotypic microbiological tests (alpha-hemolysis, CAMP reaction, esculin hydrolysis, growth on kanamycin esculin azide agar and on sodium chloride agar, inulin fermentation, hippurate hydrolysis, leucine aminopeptidase and pyrrolidonyl peptidase activity), multiplex PCR for the three major pathogens (target genes for Strep. uberis, Strep. dysgalactiae and Strep. agalactiae: pauA, 16S rRNA, and sklA3, respectively), and mass spectroscopy using the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF MS) were evaluated for the diagnosis and discrimination of the three clinically most relevant PNC.

Results

The probability that a strain of Strep. uberis, Strep. dysgalactiae and Strep. agalactiae was correctly identified by combining the results of the 9 phenotypic tests was 92%, 90%, and 100%, respectively. Applying the multiplex PCR, all strains of the three major pathogens were correctly identified and no false positive results occurred. Correct identification was observed for all strains of Strep. uberis and Strep. agalactiae using MALDI-TOF MS. In the case of Strep. dysgalactiae, some variability was observed at the subspecies level, but all strains were allocated to one single cluster.

Conclusions

The results of the present study show that reliable identification of the clinically most relevant PNC (Strep. uberis, Strep. agalactiae and Strep. dysgalactiae) can be obtained by use of a combination of colony morphology, hemolysis type and catalase reaction, and a multiplex PCR with specific primers restricted to these 3 pathogens. The MALDI-TOF MS is a fast method that shows promising results, although identification of Strep. dysgalactiae at the subspecies level is not yet satisfactory.

Detection and discrimination of common bovine mastitis-causing streptococci

Detection and typing of bovine mastitis pathogens are currently limited by time-consuming and culture-based techniques. In this work, a novel genus-specific DNA marker for Streptococcus and species-specific DNA markers for the prevalent mastitis pathogens Streptococcus agalactiae and Streptococcus uberis were designed and assessed. In order to enable further discrimination of these mastitis-causing streptococci, metabolic and pathogenicity-related genes were used to infer additional functional markers. A total of 12 DNA markers were validated with a set of 50 reference strains and isolates, representative of the Streptococcus genus, of closely related species and of microorganisms with matching habitats. The experimental validation, using dot blot hybridization under high stringency conditions, confirmed the specificity of the selected markers. The broad-spectrum taxonomic marker (ST1) was specific to the Streptococcus genus and the markers selected for S. agalactiae (A1 and A2) and S. uberis (U1 and U2) were shown to be species-specific. The functional markers revealed strain-specific patterns of S. agalactiae and S. uberis. Markers derived from the fructose operon (FO1 and FO3) were specific to bovine isolates of S. agalactiae, and the nisin operon markers (NU1 and NU3) were able to discriminate isolates belonging to S. agalactiae and S. uberis. The virulence-associated markers (V1, V2 and V3) allowed the detection of S. uberis and of closely related species. This work suggests that the combined use of these novel taxa-specific markers coupled with discriminatory functional markers presents a promising approach for the rapid and cost-effective detection and discrimination of common bovine mastitis-causing pathogens, which will contribute to an improved treatment and control of this disease.