Characterization and Enterotoxigenicity of Staphylococci Isolated from Mastitic Ovine Milk in Spain

Abstract

AB: 71 staphylococcal strains isolated from milk of ewes with acute, gangrenous or chronic mastitis were classified as Staphylococcus aureus (59 strains), S. simulans (1 strain), S. haemolyticus (1 strain) and S. epidermidis (5 strains); 5 strains could not be classified. 8 and 40 strains, resp., were lysed by phages of human and bovine origin. 51 of the S. aureus strains and 1 unclassified strain belonged to biotype C, 41 of these S. aureus strains producing enterotoxin C and 34 being sensitive to phage 78. A total of 49 S. aureus and 2 unclassified strains were enterotoxigenic. The public health significance of these results is briefly discussed