Caracterizacion De Fenotipos De Staphylococcus Aureus Productores De Slime Y Formadores De Biofilm en Aislamientos Obtenidos De Vacas Lecheras Con Mastitis Subclinica

Abstract

<p><strong>Background</strong>. <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> is considered the main causal agent of mastitis in dairy herds globally, affecting milk production and constituting a potential risk to public health. The presence of virulence factors such as biofilm formation and slime production favor colonization and persistence of the mammary gland infections. <strong>Objective</strong>. The study aims to characterize the phenotypes of slime-producing and biofilm-forming <em>S. aureus</em> associated with subclinical mastitis with different CMT (California Mastitis Test) degrees<strong> </strong>and their relationship with the persistence of infection. <strong>Methodology</strong>. To characterize the slime-producing and biofilm-forming <em>S. aureus</em> phenotypes, 116 individual milk samples were taken from cows with subclinical mastitis through the CMT, obtaining 80 <em>S. aureus</em> isolates. Slime production on Congo Red agar was determined <em>in vitro</em>, and the conformation of bacterial clusters adherent identified biofilm formation to rigid surfaces and crystal violet staining. <strong>Results</strong>. 68.8% (55) of the isolates produced slime, of which 20% (16) were considered as producers and 48.8% (39) as intermediate producers. 82.5% (66) of the total isolates were related to the formation of biofilm in different degrees; 1.25% (1) very high trainer, 41.25% (33) high trainer, and 40.0% (32) moderately trainer. Highly biofilm-forming isolates were associated with subclinical mastitis degrees 2 and 3 of the CMT. <strong>Implications</strong>. The verification of slime and biofilm formation in most of <em>S. aureus</em> isolations obtained from subclinical mastitis may imply that their presence is related to the condition's persistence and severity. <strong>Conclusion</strong>. The association between the phenotypes of slime-producing and biofilm-forming <em>S. aureus</em> was established with high degrees of the CMT and mammary infection persistence in the cows studied.</p>