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. 2021 Oct 4;10(3):9722.
doi: 10.4081/ijfs.2021.9722. eCollection 2021 Sep 29.

Phenotypic and genotypic study on antibiotic resistance and pathogenic factors of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from small ruminant mastitis milk in South of Italy (Sicily)

Alessio Parco  1 , Giusi Macaluso  1 , Maria Foti  2 , Maria Vitale  1 , Vittorio Fisichella  2 , Marco Tolone  3 , Guido Ruggero Loria  1
Affiliations

Phenotypic and genotypic study on antibiotic resistance and pathogenic factors of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from small ruminant mastitis milk in South of Italy (Sicily)

Alessio Parco et al. Ital J Food Saf. .

Abstract

Staphyloccoccus aureus is the major cause of mastitis in small ruminants in the Mediterranean farms causing severe losses to dairy industry. Antibiotic treatment has been the most common approach to control these infections. Aim of this study was to investigate antimicrobial resistance (AMR), virulence factors and biofilm-related genes of 84 Sicilian strains of S. aureus isolated from sheep and goats milk during two different periods δT1 (2006-2009) and δT2 (2013-2015). Kirby Bauer method and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) were utilized to monitor AMR and related genes (mecA, tetK, tetM, ermA, ermC). Moreover, toxin genes (tsst-1, sea-see, seg-sej, and sep) and biofilm genes (bap, ica, sasC) were studied. Twenty-six isolates (30.9%) showed multidrug resistance. The two groups showed similar results with exception for higher values of resistance for tilmicosin and lower for sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin of the second group. MecA gene was detected in one isolate. Tetracycline resistance was higher than 20%, with an increase in δT2 group. Toxin genes were found in 5 isolates (5.9%), belonging of δT2 group, while 57 of isolates (67.8%) showed biofilm related genes. The high presence of multi-resistant isolates suggests the need of more responsible use of antibiotic therapy for the control of these infections.

Keywords: Antimicrobial resistance; Biofilm; Staphylococcus aureus; Virulence factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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