Virulence Determinants of Escherichia coli Isolated from Buffalo Subclinical Mastitis

E. coli associated buffalo mastitis is comparatively least studied area in microbes in India. Mastitis is an inflammatory reaction of the parenchyma of the mammary gland that can be of an infectious, traumatic or toxic nature.

Total 300 buffalo milk samples were collected. E. coli were isolated from the mastitis samples and characterized for virulence factors haemolysis, biofilm formatipon, invasiveness and molecular characterization of fimH and Pap Gene.

Out of total 300 buffalo milk samples 52.33% were found positive for sub clinical mastitis. E. coli was recovered only from 17.19% samples. Hemolytic activity was exhibited in 23 (85.18%) out of 27 examined E. coli strains. Invasive property also has been determined in 12 (44.44%) isolates. A higher percentage of isolates were found positive for biofilm production by CRA (70.37%) than by tube (33.33%) method. In present study, fimH gene was detected in 8 isolates (29.62%). However, none of the isolate was found positive for pap gene.