Non-immunological incurred due to unmarketable milk or milk-products contaminated with antibiotic residues originating from treatment in the developing nations as well as from the use of antibiotics as growth promoters particularly in dairy feedlots in the developed world. The prolonged use of antibiotics in the treatment of mastitis has led to the additional problem of emergence antibiotic resistant strains, hence the constant concern about the resistant strains entering the food chain [23-25]. Many organisms associated with mastitis also have zoonotic importance and can cause diseases like brucellosis, tuberculosis, leptospirosis, Q-fever etc. [26].

The aim of this investigation was to determine the persistence of biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance developed by methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), of different capsular types, during biofilm formation. Because of superiority of the tissue culture plate (TCP) over the Congo Red Agar (CRA) method for measuring biofilm formation, it was used to determine the persistence of the antibiotic resistance developed by the isolates in biofilms. The antibiotic resistance was found to persist for 3-4 wk post-propagation as planktonic subcultures. Interestingly, some strains even developed resistance to vancomycin and/or teicoplanin. However, no association of either biofilm formation or persistent antibiotic resistance with the major capsular phenotype was observed. These observations highlight the potential significance of (a) determining the antibiograms of S. aureus subcultured from biofilms developed in vitro using the TCP method as well as from planktonic cultures for formulation of an optimal therapeutic strategy, and (b) continuing to identify predominant non-capsular antigens contributing to biofilm formation, regardless of the capsular phenotype for the development of an effective potentially broad-spectrum vaccine for prevention of bovine mastitis caused by S. aureus.

The development of persistent antibiotic resistance by human methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strains and substantial association with poly-N-acetyl glucosamine (PNAG) in biofilms is reported in this investigation. Sixteen of 31 MSSA strains under study were found to have developed resistance to one or more antibiotics, with four strains, two of which did not produce biofilms, showing resistance to cefoxitin, undetectable by mecA amplification. Antibiotic resistance displayed by 13/14 biofilm-forming S. aureus isolates remained persistent for 4 weeks prior to reverting back to the original antibiotic susceptibility, prompting a suggestion of determining antibiograms for clinical S. aureus isolates subcultured from biofilms developed in vitro as well as planktonic subcultures prepared from the site of infection. While there was correlation of antibiotic resistance with biofilm formation confirming previous reports, this is the first time that persistence of the biofilm-associated antibiotic resistance by S. aureus as planktonic cells is reported. Among the two methods used for assessment of biofilm formation, the tissue culture plate (TCP) method revealed that almost all strains were strong or moderate biofilm producers whereas only 19/31 strains were biofilm producers using the Congo Red agar (CRA) method indicating the superiority of the TCP method in detecting biofilm producers. We also observed no association between biofilm formation and major capsule types. However, substantial, although not absolute, association of biofilm formation with PNAG was observed, warranting continued identification of additional surface-associated polysaccharide and/or protein antigens associated with biofilm formation for development of an effective vaccine against S. aureus infections regardless of capsular phenotype.

Hybridisation-capture was used to create 12 unique alpaca DNA libraries each enriched for a different tetranucleotide microsatellite motif. Two hundred and forty nine microsatellites were found, of which 26 were polymorphic (motifs GGAT, GTTT and GCAC). Nine markers were fully characterised on 45 samples. Allele numbers ranged from 6 (Locus P135) to 12 (loci P149 and PCTD17). There was no evidence of linkage disequilibrium at any locus (p = 0.064-1). Deviation from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium was observed in three loci after Bonferroni correction (PCTD17, P135 and P193). Null alleles were detected at loci P147, P193 and P194. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.48 to 0.82. When combined, the markers had an exclusion probability of 97.7%. Two polymerase chain reaction multiplex sets comprising six and three markers each were optimized. These multiplex sets will be useful for parentage determination, and individually the

Mastitis is one of the most common and burdensome diseases afflicting dairy animals. Among other causes of mastitis, staphylococci are frequently associated with clinical and subclinical mastitis. Although Staphylococcus aureus is the predominant species involved, Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative staphylococci are increasingly being isolated from cases of bovine mastitis. Although Staph. aureus and Staph. epidermidis can be easily differentiated based on their biochemical properties, such phenotypic identification is time consuming and laborious. This study aimed to rapidly identify Staph. aureus and Staph. epidermidis. Accordingly, a multiplex PCR was developed and we found that a single gene encoding the adhesin fibrinogen binding protein could be used to identify and differentiate the two species. Consequently, a multiplex reaction combining a triplex PCR for Staph. aureus and a duplex PCR for Staph. epidermidis was standardized, first using bacterial cultures and then with pasteurized milk spiked with live organisms or DNA extracted from the organisms. The test could specifically detect Staph. aureus and Staph. epidermidis even in the presence of a dozen other organisms. The limit of detection for detecting Staph. aureus and Staph. epidermidis separately was 10 to 100 cfu/mL for simplex PCR and 10 4 cfu/mL for multiplex PCR. Conversely, the limit was 10 6 cfu/ mL by multiplex PCR for simultaneous detection of both the organisms when spiked into culture medium or pasteurized milk. Overnight enrichment enhanced the assay sensitivity 100-fold. The assay had a high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. The application of the test was verified on 602 field isolates of staphylococci that had been characterized earlier by phenotypic methods. Importantly, 25 coagulase-negative isolates were identified as Staph. aureus by the multiplex PCR. The test could be adapted for use in clinical diagnostic laboratories.