Staphylococcal enterotoxin and thermonuclease production during induced bovine mastitis and the clinical reaction of enterotoxin in udders.
Enterotoxin A- and C-producing strains of Staphylococcus aureus and partially and extensively purified enterotoxin A were inoculated into the udder quarters of cows. In the course of experimentally induced mastitis caused by the inoculated S. aureus strain, enterotoxin C but not A was detected in the infected udder. Enterotoxin C was observed in mastitic milk samples at very low S. aureus population levels (10(2) to 10(3) colony-forming units per ml). The results suggest that either the synthesis of enterotoxin C is stimulated in vitro or that growth of S. aureus cells in udders was, in fact, higher than the colony-forming unit values indicated. Thermonuclease was shown to be excreted into mastitic milk at a slower rate than was enterotoxin. An inoculation of 1 microgram of enterotoxin A in autogenic milk returned to the udder caused clinical reactions (swelling, palpation sensitivity, and increase in the level of somatic cells) within 6 h.
D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D002417:Cattle; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology*; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000382:microbiology*; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000378:metabolism
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004768:Enterotoxins; D008836:Micrococcal Nuclease