Staphylococcus Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Staphylococcus, including details on mrsa, hospitals, infection, antibiotic resistance, superbugs.

Multilocus sequence typing of intercontinental bovine Staphylococcus aureus isolates.

Smith EM, Green LE, Medley GF, Bird HE, Fox LK, Schukken YH, Kruze JV, Bradley AJ, Zadoks RN, Dowson CG

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.

A total of 258 bovine-associated Staphylococcus aureus isolates from the United States, Chile, and the United Kingdom, plus the reference isolate S. aureus Newbould 305 (NCIMB 702892), were analyzed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST). A collection of previously characterized United Kingdom isolates were also included in the analysis. The results demonstrated that MLST is suitable for the differentiation of bovine S. aureus isolates from various sites (milk, teat skin, milking machine unit liners, hands, and bedding) and countries. The theory of the host specificity of S. aureus is supported by the detection of a previously undescribed clonal complex that comprised 87.4% of the isolates studied, with representatives from all geographic locations investigated. This suggests that a single clonal group has achieved a widespread distribution and is responsible for the majority of infections. Some sequence types (STs; ST25, ST115, ST124, and ST126) demonstrated site specificity, as they were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with milk or teat skin.

Published 7 September 2005 in J Clin Microbiol, 43(9): 4737-43.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Staphylococcus Research Today. All Rights Reserved.