EMERGENCE OF COAGULASE POSITIVE METHICILLIN RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ISOLATED FROM BUFFALO MASTITIS MILK SAMPLES

The present study was undertaken to screen methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in mastitis buffalo milk samples from northern India. A total of 120 buffalo mastitis milk samples were collected from individual quarter over a one year period mainly from animals reared by marginal farmers. The isolates were presumptively confirmed by growing the organism in selective media and biochemical tests. A total of 52 samples were presumptively confirmed as Staphylococci on the basis of growth in Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA); out of which 12 samples were coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) by growth in Baird Parker Agar (BPA) and tube coagulase test. Antibacterial profiling and growth on Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MeReSa) Agar indicated five isolates as MRSA. Further PCR of specific gene segments and their subsequent characterization based on 16S ribosomal RNA, of staphylo-coagulase and mecA confirmed the findings. The study accentuates the importance of determining the causal agents of mastitis, antibacterial profiling so as to enable the clinicians and researchers to intervene and adopt effective control measures.