Summary Eighteen methicillin (cloxacillin)‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates were obtained from 17 cows (2.2%) out of 776 which yielded S. aureus positive milk samples. Resistant strains were found on 12 (5.2%) of 232 farms. The physiological characteristics (production of haemolysins and fibrinolysin) of 17 of these isolates were similar to those of the common bovine strains. Their antibiotic resistance characteristics were similar to those of the methicillin‐resistant strains which have been described from human sources. The epidemiology of methicillin‐resistant S. aureus strains and the methods which can be used in their routine detection are briefly discussed. Résumé Souches de staphylocoques dorés résistantes à la méthicilline (cloxacilline) isolées chez les bovins Au cours de l'examen de 776 échantillons de lait contenant des staphylocoques dorés, on a trouvé 18 souches résistantes à la méthicilline (cloxacilline) chez 17 bovins (2,2%). Les souches résistantes provenaient de 12 fermes (sur les 232 examinées au total) (soit 5,2%). Les propriétés physiologiques de ces souches sont les mêmes que celles des souches trouvées habituellement chez les bovins. Le développement de la résistance aux antibiotiques ne diffère pas de celui des souches résistantes à la méthicilline isolées chez l'homme. On discute brièvement l'épidémiologie des souches de S. aureus résistantes à la méthicilline, ainsi que les méthodes pour leur mise en évidence de routine. Resumen Cepas de Staphylococcus aureus resistentes a la meticilina (cloxacilina) isoladas en casos de mastitis bovina Al analizar 776 muestras de leche, positivas de Staphylococcus aureus, se hallaron 18 estirpes resistentes a la meticilina (cloxacilina) en 17 vacas (2,3%). Las estirpes resistentes procedían de 12 (5,2%) explotaciones entre un total de 232 examinadas. Las propiedades fisiológicas de estas cepas eran las mismas que las normales ubicadas en vacas. La conformación de su resistencia frente a los antibióticos no se diferenció de las estirpes resistentes a la meticilina aisladas en personas. Se discuten de forma sucinta la epidemiología de las estirpes S. aureus resistentes a la meticilina y las técnicas para su hallada rutinaria. Zusammenfassung Bei der Untersuchung von 776 Staphylococcus aureus‐positiven Milchproben wurden 18 Methicillin (cloxacillin)‐resistente Stämme bei 17 Rindern (2,2%) gefunden. Die resistenten Stämme stammten aus 12 (5,2%) von insgesamt 232 untersuchten Farmen. Die physiologischen Eigenschaften dieser Stämme waren die gleichen wie die normaler, beim Rind vorkommender Stämme. Die Ausbildung ihrer Anti‐biotikaresistenz unterschied sich nicht von der beim Menschen isolierter Methicillin‐resistenter Stämme. Die Epidemiologie von Methicillin‐resistenten S. aureus‐Stämmen sowie Methoden zu ihrer routinemäfiigen Auffindung werden kurz diskutiert.

The intestinal contents of 59 Zairese freshwater fish were examined for the presence of potential human enteric pathogens. Edwardsiella tarda and Plesiomonas shigelloides were isolated from 57 and 59% of them, respectively. For both microorganisms there was a significant difference between the isolation rates from lake and river fish: whereas E. tarda was much more frequently isolated from lake fish than was P. shigelloides, the reverse was observed for river fish. The authors hypothesize that sporadic cases of tropical diarrhea with E. tarda or P. shigelloides can be traced to contact with or consumption of freshwater fish.

Important populations of Staphylococcus aureus were found to be present on the body surfaces of live poultry originating from flocks without history of staphylococcal disease. Their sized increased considerably until approximately the seventh week of life after which time they were maintained at equally high levels. Significant correlations were found between the populations recovered from superficial wash samples and skin-tissue samples. Similarly the numbers isolated from the nasal cavities were correlated with other surface counts. Low numbers were present in the intestinal tract. Birds with staphylococcal synovitis had higher numbers in all sampling regions. The counts were very high in subjects suffering from staphylococcal dermatitis. Higher rates of positive birds and higher numbers of staphylococci were detected with a whole body sampling method than with a nasal swab technique. The isolates obtained in this study belonged to the S. aureus biotype B which is associated with poultry and pigs.

No abstract

Author's address: Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Casinoplein 24, B-9000 Gent, 90-93. 42, 729-732.Med. 1, 7-10. 26,267-278.12, 500-503.Be I gi u m.