Environmental reservoirs for Serratia marcescens intramammary infections in dairy cows.
Via special media, Serratia marcescens isolates were found in 3 bedding pack samples and in 2 milking parlor floor samples, and in milk samples from 19 cows during an episode of mastitis in a dairy cow herd. Chromosomal digest patterns of isolated S marcescens were indistinguishable for 18 of the milk samples and all bedding pack samples. Our findings provide strong evidence that the bedding pack was the reservoir of S marcescens associated with the outbreak of intramammary infections. Additionally, our ability to match digest patterns of isolates in the bedding pack and milk confirms the theory that S marcescens is an environmental pathogen capable of causing mastitis.
Kamarudin
M I
MI
Department of Animal Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Washington State University, Pullman 99164-6610, USA.
Fox
L K
LK
Gaskins
C T
CT
Gay
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle; D002452:Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005260:Female; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial