LEUKOTOXIC FACTORS PRODUCED BY STAPHYLOCOCCI OF OVINE ORIGIN

Citation
Ar. Burriel et Gjr. Dagnall, LEUKOTOXIC FACTORS PRODUCED BY STAPHYLOCOCCI OF OVINE ORIGIN, Microbiological research, 152(3), 1997, pp. 247-250
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Environmental Sciences",Microbiology
Journal title
ISSN journal
09445013
Volume
152
Issue
3
Year of publication
1997
Pages
247 - 250
Database
ISI
SICI code
0944-5013(1997)152:3<247:LFPBSO>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
Leukotoxins produced by staphylococci, especially Staphylococcus aureu s, have long been considered important virulence determinants. The pre sent assay examined 26 strains of staphylococci isolated from sheep fo r their ability to produce factors leukotoxic to polymorphonuclear leu kocytes deriving from ovine mammary glands. Twenty one strains were co agulase-negative staphylococci and five coagulase-positive. Of the coa gulase-negative staphylococci 17 were isolated from subclinical mastit is and four from the teat skin. The coagulase-positive strains were is olated from clinical mastitis and caused death to 91-100% of the cells . The coagulase-negative strains isolated from subclinical mastitis ca used death to less than 50% of cells, while those from the skin did no t affect any cells. The concentration of active leukotoxins is an impo rtant staphylococcal virulence factor. Low production of leukotoxins o r no production by coagulase-negative staphylococci may determine thei r ability to survive the mammary gland defenses or cause clinical mast itis.