Biofilm-producing ability of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from Brazilian dairy farms.
This study aimed to investigate the in silico biofilm production ability of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from milking parlor environments on dairy farms from São Paulo, Brazil. The Staph. aureus isolates were obtained from 849 samples collected on dairy farms, as follows: milk from individual cows with subclinical mastitis or history of the disease (n=220); milk from bulk tank (n=120); surfaces of milking machines and utensils (n=389); and milk handlers (n=120). Thirty-one Staph. aureus isolates were obtained and categorized as pulsotypes by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and submitted to assays for biofilm formation on polystyrene, stainless steel, rubber, and silicone surfaces. Fourteen (45.2%) pulsotypes were considered producers of biofilm on the polystyrene microplate assay, whereas 13 (41.9%) and 12 (38.7%) pulsotypes were biofilm producers on stainless steel and rubber, respectively. None of the pulsotypes evaluated produced biofilms on silicone. Approximately 45% of Staph. aureus pulsotypes isolated from different sources on dairy farms showed the ability to produce biofilms in at least one assay, indicating possible persistence of this pathogen in the milking environment. The potential involvement of Staph. aureus in subclinical mastitis cases and its occurrence in milk for human consumption emphasize the need to improve hygiene practices to prevent biofilm formation on the farms studied.
University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Department of Food Engineering, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, CEP 13635-900 Pirassununga/São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: carlosaf@usp.br.
S H I
SH
Lee
University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Department of Food Engineering, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, CEP 13635-900 Pirassununga/São Paulo, Brazil.
B L C
BL
Mangolin
University of São Paulo, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, Pirassununga-SP, 13635-900, Brazil.
J L
JL
Gonçalves
University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Department of Food Engineering, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, CEP 13635-900 Pirassununga/São Paulo, Brazil.
D V
DV
Neeff
University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Department of Food Engineering, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, CEP 13635-900 Pirassununga/São Paulo, Brazil.
M P
MP
Silva
State University of Campinas, Faculty of Food Engineering, Department of Food Technology, Caixa Postal 6121 CEP 13083-970 Campinas/São Paulo, Brazil.
A G
AG
Cruz
University of São Paulo, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, Department of Food Engineering, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, CEP 13635-900 Pirassununga/São Paulo, Brazil.
C A F
CA
Oliveira
D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D001938:Brazil; D002417:Cattle; D003612:Dairying / Q000295:instrumentation; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008413:Mastitis; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000382:microbiology; D008892:Milk / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000662:veterinary; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology*
Staphylococcus aureus; biofilm; milk; persistence