title: Short communication: Role of Streptococcus pluranimalium in Mediterranean buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) with different udder health statuses.
abstract: The aims of the current study were to describe presence and clinical role over time of Streptococcus pluranimalium isolated in milk samples of Mediterranean buffalo (MB). Two hundred composite milk samples originating from 40 primiparous MB were collected at 10, 30, 60, 90, and 150d in milk (DIM) and from 20 pluriparous MB at 77 to 120 DIM. Milk samples were used for analysis of somatic cell counts, bacteriological cultures, and identification (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry). Nine of 200 (4.5%) samples of primiparous MB and 3 of 20 (15%) samples of pluriparous MB were positive for Strep. pluranimalium. The prevalence of the bacterium in primipari was 0% (0/40) at 10, 30, and 150 DIM, whereas it was 5 (2/40) and 17.5% (7/40) at 60 and 90 DIM, respectively. Eight primipari were positive only once, whereas 1 was positive at 2 different samplings. Mono-infection was not detected in any of the age categories or udder health status. Infections were transient in primipari. Clinical mastitis was observed in primipari once at 90 DIM, subclinical mastitis detected twice in the same animals at 60 and 90 DIM, and intramammary infections were diagnosed 1 and 5 times at 60 and 90 DIM in primipari, respectively, whereas 3 infections were diagnosed in pluripari. The clinical reflections demonstrate for the first time the presence of Strep. pluranimalium in MB and its association with different udder health status. Nevertheless, it cannot be excluded that the bacterium may simply follow a pattern of commensal or opportunistic behavior, taking advantage of a preexisting bacterial udder infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Napoli "Federico II," Via Delpino 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy. Electronic address: jacopo.guccione@unina.it.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guccione
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern 3001, Switzerland.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perreten
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Ruminants, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern 3001, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern 3001, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thomann
authors.affiliation: Istituto Zooprofilattico del Mezzogiorno, Via A. Jervolino, 81100 Tuoro, Caserta District, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pesce
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Napoli "Federico II," Via Delpino 1, 80137 Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ciaramella
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Ruminants, Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Vetsuisse-Faculty, University of Bern, Bern 3001, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bodmer
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000382:microbiology*; D002417:Cattle; D002452:Cell Count / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000382:microbiology*; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000382:microbiology*; D008892:Milk / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology*; D010298:Parity; D015995:Prevalence; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification
keywords: Mediterranean buffalo; Streptococcus pluranimalium; mastitis; matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry