HEMAGGLUTINATION BY STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS STRAINS RESPONSIBLE FOR HUMAN BACTEREMIA OR BOVINE MASTITIS

Although hemagglutination by Staphylococcus aureus has been associated with the pathogenesis of bovine mastitis, this trait has not been cha racterized with regard to human disease. In this study, the prevalence of hemagglutination in 100 strains of S. aureus responsible for bovin e mastitis or human bacteremia, was characterized. Under optimum condi tions hemagglutination was noted in 23% of the bovine strains, but onl y 13% of human strains, leading us to conclude that this trait is not a significant virulence determinant in human systemic infection. Addit ional studies indicate the hemagglutinin of S. aureus strains responsi ble for human bacteremia is proteinaceous in character.