Prevalence and characterization of coagulase negative staphylococci associated with buffalo mastitis

A total of 253 milk samples from different quarters of 64 apparently healthy Murrah buffaloes were collected aseptically from an organized farm at Hisar, Haryana. The prevalence of subclinical mastitis was determined following International Dairy Federation Criteria based on bacteriological examination of milk and somatic cell count. Staphylococcus spp. was found to be predominant pathogen (57.5%) followed by streptococci (40%) and E. coli (2.5%). All the isolated staphylococci were confirmed by 16S rRNA genus specific PCR and were found to be coagulase negative and novobiocin sensitive in the present study. In the order of frequency of isolation, various species of coagulase negative Staphylococci identified were S. epidermidis (7), S. capitis (6), S. hyicus (4), S. haemolyticus (2), S. chromogenes (2) and S. simulans (2). The Staphylococcus spp. isolated from udder infections were subjected to in vitro chemotherapeutic sensitivity using 17 antimicrobials by disc-diffusion method and and were found 100% sensitive to Chloramphenicol, Moxifloxacin, Cefoperazone, Amikacin, Gentamicin, Neomycin and Enrofloxacin.