Prevalence and characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bulk and composite milk and cattle handlers

The prevalence and characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bulk and composite milk and from cattle handlers on dairy farms in Trinidad were determined. S. aureus strains isolated from all 175 bulk milk samples tested (100 percent) while 280 of 287 composite milk samples (97.6 percent) yielded S. aureus. The mean counts of S. aureus in bulk milk ranged from 5.9 x 10(3) to 1.2 x 10(5) CFU/ml compard with mean S. aureus counts in composited milk which ranged from 2.4 x 10(3) to 3.0 x 10(4) CFU/ml. Of the 105 strains of S. aureus from bulk milk tested, 45 (42.9 percent) were enterotoxigenic elaborating staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), SEB, SEC, SED, or a combination compared to 69 of 146 strains (47.3 percent) recovered from composite milk which were enterotoxigenic but the difference was not statistically significant (P > = 0.05; chi 2). Twenty-two of 42 bulk milk samples containing enterotoxigenic S. auerus (52.4 percent) had counts of the organism which exceeded 10(4) CFU/ml. For S. aureus strains isolated from cattle handlers, 66 of 146 (45.2 percent) were enterotoxigenic. Prevalence of resistance to nine antimicrobial agents tested was 18.7 percent and 12.9 percent among bulk milk and composite milk isolates, respectively, compared to 49.3 percent and 69.5 percent among isolates from human anterior nares and hand swabs, respectively. Resistance to ampicillin and penicillin was highest among both milk (12.2 percent) and human (53.6 percent) isolates of S. aureus, and the difference was statistically significant (P < or = 0.001); chi 2). It was concluded that bulk milk containing relatively high counts of enterotoxigenic S. aureus may constitute a health hazard to consumers(AU)

Prevalence and characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bulk and composite milk cattle handlers

The prevalence and characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bulk and composite milk and from cattle handlers on dairy farm all 175 bulk milk samples tested (100 percent) while 280 of 287 composite milk samples (97.6 percent) yielded S. aureus. The mean counts of S. aureus in bulk milk ranged from 5.9 x 10(3) to 1.2 x 10(5) CFU/ml compared with mean S. aureus counts in composite mild which ranged from 2.4 x 10(3) to 3.0 x 10(4) CFU/ml. Of the 105 strains of S. aureus from bulk milk tested, 45 (42.9 percent) were enterotoxigenic elaborating staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA), SEB, SEC, SED, or a combination compared to 69 of 146 stains (47.3 percent) recovered from composite milk which were enterotoxigenic, but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05; chi 2). Twenty-two of 42 bulk milk samples containing enterotoxigenic S. aureus (52.4 percent) had counts of the organism which exceeded 10(4) CFU/ml. For S. aureus strains isolated from cattle handlers, 66 of 146 (45.2 percent) were enterotoxigenic. Prevalence of resistance to nine antimicrobial agents tested was 18.7 percent and 12.9 percent among bulk milk and composite milk isolates, respectively, compared to 49.3 percent and 69.5 percent among isolates from human anterior nares and hand swabs, respectively. Resistance to ampicillin and penicillin was highest among both milk (12.2 percent) and human (53.6 percent) isolates of S. aureus, and the difference was stastically significant (P < or in 0.001; chi 2). It was concluded that bulk milk containing relatively high counts of enterotoxigenic S. aureus may constitute a health hazard to consumers(AU)

Leiomyoma of the nasal cavity

Leiomyoma of the nasal cavity is described in a 32-year-old Trinidadian woman. This is the first such case to be reported in the Caribbean, and the ninth in the world literature (AU)

Nasal tumour in a sheep in Trinidad, West Indies

Medical treatment of a pregnant 3 to 4-year old Barbados Black Belly ewe with a swelling of the left face and from which there was a bloody nasal discharge was unsuccessful. Further clinical examination of the animal led to the suspicion of a malignant neoplasm. The animal was euthanised and a detailed post mortem examination was performed. Gross and histological examination revealed an adenocarcinoma of the nasal cavity with metastasis to the lungs. Tumours in sheep generally, and adenocarcinomas of the nasal cavity in particular, are of rare occurence (AU)