PHENOTYPIC CHARACTERIZATION OF STAPHYLOCOCCI ISOLATED FROM SMALL RUMINANTS

Staphylococcal infections are common in small ruminants and are represented by localized infections of the skin, hooves and mammary gland. The pathological samples for bacteriological examination were taken from a total of 37 sheeps and goats with different lesions and the primary inseminations were made on agar with 5% sheep defibrinated blood. Biochemical properties were revealed by API Staph system. The isolates were tested against novobiocin and methicillin using the Kirby-Bauer method with biodiscs. 37 strains of staphylococci were isolated and included in S. aureus ssp. aureus species (32 strains) and in S. xylosus species (5 strains). 16 methicillin-resistant strains were identified that belong to those two staphylococci species, confirming thus the epidemiological circuit of these strains also in small ruminants.