EPIDEMIOLOGIC CHARACTERIZATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCUS-AUREUS ISOLATED FROMBOVINE MASTITIS IN PORTO-ALEGRE (RIO-GRANDE-DO-SUL, BRAZIL)

One hundred strains of S. aureus isolated from bovine mastitis in Port o Alegre (Brazil) were analysed for biotype, phage pattern and ability to produce protein A. Biotype could be defined in 76% of the isolates : 52% belonged to biotype C (bovine origin) and 24% to biotype A (huma n origin). Phage typing performed with the human basic set (Routine Te st Dilution - RTD x 100) allowed the classification of 42% of the samp les. Low titers of protein A were detectable in 89% of the strains.