title: Interaction between bovine-associated coagulase-negative staphylococci species and strains and bovine mammary epithelial cells reflects differences in ecology and epidemiological behavior.
abstract: Bacteria adherence seems to be an essential first stage for the internalization of bacteria into the cytoplasm of the host cell, which is considered an important virulence strategy enabling bacteria to occupy a microenvironment separated from host defense mechanisms. Thus, this study aimed to explore the difference in the capacity of 4 bovine-associated staphylococci species or strains to adhere to and internalize into bovine mammary epithelial cells (MEC). Three different isolates of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were used: one strain of Staphylococcus fleurettii isolated from sawdust and considered an environmental opportunistic bacterium, and 2 dissimilar Staphylococcus chromogenes isolates, one cultured from a heifer's teat apex (Staph. chromogenes TA) and the other originating from a chronic intramammary infection (Staph. chromogenes IM). Also, one well-characterized strain of Staphylococcus aureus (Newbould 305) was used for comparison with a major mastitis pathogen. The CNS species and strains adhered to and internalized into MEC slower than did Staph. aureus. Still, we observed high variation in adhesion and internalization capacity among the different CNS, with Staph. chromogenes IM showing a greater ability to adhere to and internalize into MEC than the 2 CNS strains isolated from extramammary habitats. In conclusion, the 3 well-characterized bovine-associated CNS species and strains originating from distinct habitats showed clear differences in their capacity to adhere to and internalize into MEC. The observed differences might be related to their diversity in ecology and epidemiological behavior.
authors.affiliation: M-team and Mastitis and Milk Quality Research Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-010, Brazil. Electronic address: nogueirasouza@yahoo.com.br.
authors.forename: F N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: M-team and Mastitis and Milk Quality Research Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piepers
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Clínica Médica, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil.
authors.forename: A M M P
authors.initials: AMMP
authors.lastname: Della Libera
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil.
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Heinemann
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Tecnologia e Inspeção de Produtos de Origem Animal, Escola de Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-010, Brazil.
authors.forename: M M O P
authors.initials: MMOP
authors.lastname: Cerqueira
authors.affiliation: M-team and Mastitis and Milk Quality Research Unit, Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, Merelbeke 9820, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Vliegher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002417:Cattle; D002452:Cell Count; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003030:Coagulase / Q000378:metabolism; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000166:cytology / Q000382:microbiology; D008414:Mastitis, Bovine / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D003030:Coagulase
keywords: Staphylococcus aureus; coagulase-negative staphylococci; dairy cow; mastitis