title: Prevalence of Staphylococcus species during the periparturient period in primiparous and multiparous cows.
abstract: During a 14-mo period, 77 multiparous and 36 primiparous cows were sampled to determine the prevalence of staphylococci during the periparturient period. Distal streak canal swabs were taken at 14 d prepartum, and foremilk was sampled the first 5 consecutive wk of lactation. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 7.6% of quarters of primiparous cows but from only .6% of quarters of multiparous cows at parturition. Prevalence in primiparous cows declined to 3.5% by the wk-1 sampling. Quarter prevalence of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species prepartum, at parturition, and wk 1 to 5 in primiparous cows was 38.9, 27.8, 15.3, 14.6, 13.2, 15.3, and 14.6%, respectively. In multiparous cows, prevalence at these times was 50.3, 12.3, 6.2, 8.1, 10.7, 7.1, and 8.1%. Staphylococcus chromogenes was the predominant species isolated, accounting for over 50% of the staphylococci isolated at each sampling time. Results suggest that high prevalence of staphylococci isolated prepartum is a reflection of natural skin flora and that a higher postpartum prevalence of these organisms was observed in primiparous cows than in multiparous cows. These data suggest also that the peripartum heifer could be a source of Staphylococcus aureus in the lactating herd.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37901.
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Harmon
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Langlois
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002353:Carrier State / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002417:Cattle; D005260:Female; D007775:Lactation Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000382:microbiology; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D010298:Parity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015995:Prevalence; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification