Characterization of Biofilm Producing Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Bulk Tank Milk

Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are considered less virulent as they do not produce a large number of toxic enzymes and toxins; however, they have been increasingly recognized as an important cause of bovine mastitis. In particular, the ability to form biofilms appears to be an important fac...

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Main Authors: Yu Jin Lee, Young Ju Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-08-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/8/430
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author Yu Jin Lee
Young Ju Lee
author_facet Yu Jin Lee
Young Ju Lee
author_sort Yu Jin Lee
collection DOAJ
description Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are considered less virulent as they do not produce a large number of toxic enzymes and toxins; however, they have been increasingly recognized as an important cause of bovine mastitis. In particular, the ability to form biofilms appears to be an important factor in CoNS pathogenicity, and it contributes more resistance to antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathogenic potential by assessing the biofilm-forming ability of CoNS isolated from normal bulk tank milk using the biofilm formation assay and to analyze the biofilm-associated resistance to antimicrobial agents using the disc diffusion method. One hundred and twenty-seven (78.4%) among 162 CoNS showed the ability of biofilm formation, and all species showed a significantly high ability of biofilm formation (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Although the prevalence of weak biofilm formers (39.1% to 80.0%) was significantly higher than that of other biofilm formers in all species (<i>p</i> < 0.05), the prevalence of strong biofilm formers was significantly higher in <i>Staphylococcus haemolyticus</i> (36.4%), <i>Staphylococcus chromogenes</i> (24.6%), and <i>Staphylococcus saprophyticus</i> (21.7%) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Also, 4 (11.4%) among 35 non-biofilm formers did not harbor any biofilm-associated genes, whereas all 54 strong or moderate biofilm formers harbored 1 or more of these genes. The prevalence of MDR was significantly higher in biofilm formers (73.2%) than in non-formers (20.0%) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Moreover, the distribution of MDR in strong or moderate biofilm formers was 81.5%, which was significantly higher than in weak (67.1%) and non-formers (20.0%) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Our results indicated that various CoNS isolated from bulk tank milk, not from bovine with mastitis, have already showed a high ability to form biofilms, while also displaying a high prevalence of MDR.
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spelling doaj.art-cdd97d1f959a48efa4b29186d2343ca32023-12-03T14:38:31ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812022-08-019843010.3390/vetsci9080430Characterization of Biofilm Producing Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Bulk Tank MilkYu Jin Lee0Young Ju Lee1College of Veterinary Medicine & Zoonoses Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, KoreaCollege of Veterinary Medicine & Zoonoses Research Institute, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, KoreaCoagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are considered less virulent as they do not produce a large number of toxic enzymes and toxins; however, they have been increasingly recognized as an important cause of bovine mastitis. In particular, the ability to form biofilms appears to be an important factor in CoNS pathogenicity, and it contributes more resistance to antimicrobials. The aim of this study was to investigate the pathogenic potential by assessing the biofilm-forming ability of CoNS isolated from normal bulk tank milk using the biofilm formation assay and to analyze the biofilm-associated resistance to antimicrobial agents using the disc diffusion method. One hundred and twenty-seven (78.4%) among 162 CoNS showed the ability of biofilm formation, and all species showed a significantly high ability of biofilm formation (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Although the prevalence of weak biofilm formers (39.1% to 80.0%) was significantly higher than that of other biofilm formers in all species (<i>p</i> < 0.05), the prevalence of strong biofilm formers was significantly higher in <i>Staphylococcus haemolyticus</i> (36.4%), <i>Staphylococcus chromogenes</i> (24.6%), and <i>Staphylococcus saprophyticus</i> (21.7%) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Also, 4 (11.4%) among 35 non-biofilm formers did not harbor any biofilm-associated genes, whereas all 54 strong or moderate biofilm formers harbored 1 or more of these genes. The prevalence of MDR was significantly higher in biofilm formers (73.2%) than in non-formers (20.0%) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Moreover, the distribution of MDR in strong or moderate biofilm formers was 81.5%, which was significantly higher than in weak (67.1%) and non-formers (20.0%) (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Our results indicated that various CoNS isolated from bulk tank milk, not from bovine with mastitis, have already showed a high ability to form biofilms, while also displaying a high prevalence of MDR.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/8/430staphylococcicoagulase negative staphylococcimilkbiofilmbiofilm associated genemultidrug resistance
spellingShingle Yu Jin Lee
Young Ju Lee
Characterization of Biofilm Producing Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Bulk Tank Milk
Veterinary Sciences
staphylococci
coagulase negative staphylococci
milk
biofilm
biofilm associated gene
multidrug resistance
title Characterization of Biofilm Producing Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Bulk Tank Milk
title_full Characterization of Biofilm Producing Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Bulk Tank Milk
title_fullStr Characterization of Biofilm Producing Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Bulk Tank Milk
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of Biofilm Producing Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Bulk Tank Milk
title_short Characterization of Biofilm Producing Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci Isolated from Bulk Tank Milk
title_sort characterization of biofilm producing coagulase negative staphylococci isolated from bulk tank milk
topic staphylococci
coagulase negative staphylococci
milk
biofilm
biofilm associated gene
multidrug resistance
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/9/8/430
work_keys_str_mv AT yujinlee characterizationofbiofilmproducingcoagulasenegativestaphylococciisolatedfrombulktankmilk
AT youngjulee characterizationofbiofilmproducingcoagulasenegativestaphylococciisolatedfrombulktankmilk