Prevalence of mecA and pvl genes in coagulase negative staphylococci isolated from bovine mastitis in smallholder dairy farms in Turkey.

This study aimed to investigate the presence of mecA and pvl genes in coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CNS) species isolated from bovine mastitis in smallholder dairy farms by using PCR. A total of 602 mammary quarter milk samples belong to 170 cows with mastitis were used. Identification of species was achieved by using the commercial Gram-positive identification kit and a total of 52 (8.6%) CNS species were isolated. The most frequently isolated species was Staphylococcus capitis (n = 15, 28.8%), followed by Staphylococcus saccharolyticus (n = 12, 23.1%), Staphylococcus simulans (n = 8, 15.4%), Staphylococcus haemolyticus (n = 5, 9.6%), Staphylococcus cohnii (n = 4, 7.7%), Staphylococcus lentus (n = 4, 7.7%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 2, 3.8%) and Staphylococcus saprophyticus (n = 2, 3.8%). The mecA gene positivity was found in the 13 (25%) of strains. Of the strains carrying mecA gene, eight also harbored the pvl gene. A total of pvl gene positivity was found as 30.8% (n = 16) in 52 CNS species. In conclusion, the present study showed that CNS isolated from cows with mastitis may be reservoir of mecA and pvl genes. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing the presence of mecA and pvl genes in CNS species isolated from bovine with mastitis in the smallholder dairy farms in Turkey.