TY - JOUR

T1 - In vitro ability of mastitis causing pathogens to form biofilms

AU - Schönborn, Sarah

AU - Wente, Nicole

AU - Paduch, Jan-Hendrik

AU - Krömker, Volker

PY - 2017/5

Y1 - 2017/5

N2 - This Research Communication describes the study of in vitro biofilm formation of mastitis causing pathogens. Biofilms are communities of bacteria that are attached to a surface and to each other and are embedded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances. Biofilm formation is an important virulence factor that may result in recurrent or persistent udder infections and treatment failure through increased resistance to antibiotics and protection against host defences. In the present study 252 bacterial isolates from milk samples from bovine udder quarters with intramammary infections were examined with Congo Red agar (CRA) method and tube method (TM) for their ability to form biofilms. Both tests revealed a high number of biofilm-positive strains. Literature reports that the cure rates for Staphylococcus aureus infected udders are lower (27%) in comparison to cure rates of Streptococcus uberis (64-81%) or coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) mastitis (80-90%). The findings of the present study suggest that biofilm formation is not the main factor for the differences in cure rates of the various bacteria genera, because all tested pathogen groups showed a similarly high proportion of biofilm formation. Further research is needed to detect microbial biofilms on bovine udder epithelia.

AB - This Research Communication describes the study of in vitro biofilm formation of mastitis causing pathogens. Biofilms are communities of bacteria that are attached to a surface and to each other and are embedded in a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances. Biofilm formation is an important virulence factor that may result in recurrent or persistent udder infections and treatment failure through increased resistance to antibiotics and protection against host defences. In the present study 252 bacterial isolates from milk samples from bovine udder quarters with intramammary infections were examined with Congo Red agar (CRA) method and tube method (TM) for their ability to form biofilms. Both tests revealed a high number of biofilm-positive strains. Literature reports that the cure rates for Staphylococcus aureus infected udders are lower (27%) in comparison to cure rates of Streptococcus uberis (64-81%) or coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) mastitis (80-90%). The findings of the present study suggest that biofilm formation is not the main factor for the differences in cure rates of the various bacteria genera, because all tested pathogen groups showed a similarly high proportion of biofilm formation. Further research is needed to detect microbial biofilms on bovine udder epithelia.

KW - Animals

KW - Bacterial Physiological Phenomena

KW - Biofilms/growth & development

KW - Cattle

KW - Escherichia coli/physiology

KW - Female

KW - Klebsiella/physiology

KW - Mammary Glands, Animal/microbiology

KW - Mastitis, Bovine/drug therapy

KW - Microbiological Techniques/methods

KW - Milk/microbiology

KW - Staphylococcus/physiology

KW - Staphylococcus aureus/physiology

KW - Streptococcus/physiology

U2 - 10.1017/S0022029917000218

DO - 10.1017/S0022029917000218

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 28524019

VL - 84

SP - 198

EP - 201

JO - Journal of Dairy Research

JF - Journal of Dairy Research

SN - 0022-0299

IS - 2

ER -