STUDIES ON SOME BIOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS OF BUFFALO MAMMARY ORIGIN

A total of 49 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus of buffalo mammary ori gin were studied for biochemical characteristics. Coagulase production , clumping factor, haemolytic activity, pigment production and ferment ation of maltose and mannitol were employed to differentiate S. aureus from S. hyicus and S. intermedius. Out of 49 isolates, 97.95, 93.87, 93.87, 89.79, 95.91, 100.0, 95.91, 59.18, 100.0, 100.0, 100.0, 89.79, 91.83 and 100.0% isolates were positive for coagulase production, prot ein-A production, haemolysin production, thermostable nuclease product ion, deoxyribonuclease production, tellurite reduction, nitrate reduct ion, lipase production, phosphatase production, mannitol fermentation, glucose fermentation, M.R. test, V.P. test and pigment production res pectively. The only isolate from which coagulase production could not be detected, however, showed haemolytic activity, protein-A productivi ty, pigmentation and mannitol fermentation. One of the protein-A negat ive isolate was coagulase positive and showed mennitol fermentation, p igmentation and haemolytic activity. The study revealed that the bioch emical characteristics of S. aureus of buffalo mammary origin did not differ from those of cattle origin. Coagulase, haemolysin, thermostabl e nuclease, deoxyribonuclease, phosphatase, lipase, tellurite and nitr ate reduction closely related with protein-A. The presence of protein- A seems to be as reliable an indicator for S. aureus of buffalo origin as is coagulase production.